Emotions & Mental States Vocabulary

a deep, pensive sadness

“A sense of melancholy settled over him as he read the old letters.”

Origin: Greek melancholia from melas `black` + khole `bile` (from ancient medical theory of four humors)

a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from boredom

“Ennui set in after weeks of quarantine with nothing to do.”

Origin: French ennui `annoyance, vexation` from Latin in odio `in hatred, hateful to`

a general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness, or illness

“A malaise hung over the office after the layoffs were announced.”

Origin: French malaise from mal `bad` + aise `ease, comfort`

the state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy

“The summer heat induced a pleasant languor.”

Origin: Latin languor `faintness, weariness` from languere `to be faint or weak`

a lack of energy and enthusiasm

“The medication caused lethargy as a side effect.”

Origin: Greek lethargia from lethe `forgetfulness` + argos `idle`

a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy

“The long meeting left everyone in a torpor.”

Origin: Latin torpor `numbness, sluggishness` from torpere `to be numb or sluggish`

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

“Voter apathy contributed to the low turnout.”

Origin: Greek apatheia `without feeling` from a- `without` + pathos `feeling, suffering`

lack of interest, concern, or sympathy

“His indifference to her problems hurt deeply.”

Origin: Latin indifferentia from in- `not` + differentia `difference`

a feeling of intense excitement and happiness

“Euphoria swept through the crowd when the team scored.”

Origin: Greek euphoria `power of enduring easily` from eu `well` + pherein `to bear`

great happiness and exhilaration

“She felt elation upon hearing the good news.”

Origin: Latin elatio `exaltation` from elatus `raised up` from efferre `to carry out, lift up`

a feeling of intense pleasure or joy

“The audience listened in rapture to the symphony.”

Origin: Latin raptura `a carrying off` from rapere `to seize, carry off`

an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joy

“Winning the championship filled him with ecstasy.”

Origin: Greek ekstasis `standing outside oneself` from ex `out` + histanai `to place, cause to stand`

perfect happiness; great joy

“The couple lived in bliss during their honeymoon.”

Origin: Old English bliths `joy, merriment` from Proto-Germanic blithiz `gentle, kind`

the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled

“She found serenity in her morning meditation practice.”

Origin: Latin serenitas `clearness, tranquility` from serenus `clear, calm`

the quality or state of being calm and peaceful

“The tranquility of the lake at dawn was breathtaking.”

Origin: Latin tranquillitas `calmness, stillness` from tranquillus `quiet, calm`

a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease

“Anxiety about the exam kept her awake at night.”

Origin: Latin anxietas `anguish, distress` from anxius `troubled, uneasy` from angere `to choke, squeeze`

a feeling of fear or agitation about something

“He approached the interview with trepidation.”

Origin: Latin trepidatio `agitation, alarm` from trepidare `to tremble, be anxious`

feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected

“The announcement caused consternation among employees.”

Origin: Latin consternatio `dismay, confusion` from consternare `to throw into confusion` from con- `together` + sternere `to lay low`

anxiety; mental uneasiness; a disturbance

“The news caused great perturbation in the markets.”

Origin: Latin perturbatio `confusion, disorder` from perturbare `to disturb greatly` from per- `thoroughly` + turbare `to disturb`

the state of having mixed feelings about something

“She felt ambivalence about accepting the promotion.”

Origin: German Ambivalenz from Latin ambi- `both` + valentia `strength` (coined by psychologist Eugen Bleuler in 1910)

a sentimental longing for the past

“Looking at old photos filled him with nostalgia.”

Origin: Greek nostos `homecoming` + algos `pain, ache` (coined as a medical term in 1688 for homesickness)

having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing

“She had a wistful look as she watched the train leave.”

Origin: From obsolete wistly `intently` (influenced by wishful), possibly from Old English wiste `intently`