Name the Feeling

You studied for weeks, and the grade comes back lower than you hoped.

Best word: disappointed. Also close: frustrated, resentful, hurt.

Disappointed is about an outcome that fell short of a hope. Frustrated is about being blocked, resentful is a grudge, hurt needs someone who stung you.

Your friends planned a weekend trip, and you find out from their photos.

Best word: left out. Also close: lonely, jealous, angry.

Left out names being excluded from a group. Lonely is missing connection in general, jealous is fear of losing someone to a rival, angry is the heat that may come after.

Your partner forgets the anniversary you talked about all week.

Best word: hurt. Also close: disappointed, annoyed, bored.

Hurt fits when someone close does something that stings because they matter to you. Disappointed is lighter and about the outcome, annoyed is smaller still.

The coffee shop you went to for years has closed, and you walk past the empty window.

Best word: wistful. Also close: devastated, regretful, bored.

Wistful is a soft, longing sadness for something that is gone. Devastated is far heavier, regretful means you wish you had acted differently.

Your closest friend moved across the country, and the first weekend without them is very quiet.

Best word: lonely. Also close: abandoned, rejected, bored.

Lonely is missing connection. Abandoned would mean they left you on purpose, rejected that they turned you away, bored is about having nothing to do.

You made a friend a gift by hand, and they barely look at it before putting it away.

Best word: unappreciated. Also close: embarrassed, furious, guilty.

Unappreciated names effort that went unnoticed. Embarrassed is about how you looked, furious is far bigger, guilty would mean you did something wrong.

Your dog of twelve years died last week, and you still look for her by the door.

Best word: grieving. Also close: sad, nostalgic, lonely.

Grieving is the deep, ongoing sadness of a real loss. Sad is the broad family, nostalgic is gentle and warm, lonely is only one part of it.

You did everything right on a project, and it still gets canceled.

Best word: deflated. Also close: ashamed, betrayed, anxious.

Deflated is the air going out of your effort and hope. Ashamed would mean you did wrong, betrayed that someone broke trust, anxious is about what comes next.

Your first week away at college, you keep thinking about your family’s kitchen.

Best word: homesick. Also close: lonely, nostalgic, bored.

Homesick is missing home and your people while you are away. Lonely is broader, nostalgic is about a time in the past rather than a place you can go back to.

Your laptop freezes for the third time while you try to send one email.

Best word: frustrated. Also close: furious, resentful, disappointed.

Frustrated fits when something keeps blocking what you are trying to do. Furious is much hotter, resentful is a grudge against a person, disappointed is about an outcome.

Your roommate leaves dirty dishes again, after you asked nicely three times this month.

Best word: fed up. Also close: irritated, disgusted, hurt.

Fed up is patience that has run out after repeats. Irritated is a smaller, one-time itch, disgusted is about something gross, hurt is about feeling wounded.

A coworker presents your idea in a meeting as if it were theirs.

Best word: indignant. Also close: jealous, embarrassed, insecure.

Indignant is anger at something unfair. Jealous would mean you want what they have, embarrassed is about how you look, insecure is doubt about yourself.

Someone cuts in front of you in a long line and acts like they did not see you.

Best word: irritated. Also close: enraged, hurt, anxious.

Irritated fits a small, sharp annoyance at a stranger. Enraged is far too big for a line, hurt needs someone who matters to you, anxious is worry.

Your brother reads your private messages and tells your parents what was in them.

Best word: betrayed. Also close: annoyed, embarrassed, disappointed.

Betrayed fits when someone breaks your trust. Annoyed is too small, embarrassed is about being exposed, disappointed misses the broken trust.

Your partner keeps scrolling on their phone while you tell them about your day.

Best word: ignored. Also close: enraged, jealous, bored.

Ignored names not getting attention while you are right there. Enraged is too big, jealous needs a rival, bored is about the activity, not the person.

The customer service bot sends you back to the start menu for the fourth time.

Best word: exasperated. Also close: panicked, resentful, discouraged.

Exasperated is irritation worn thin by something that keeps repeating. Panicked is fear, resentful is a grudge at a person, discouraged is losing hope.

You find out a friend has been spreading a lie about you to the whole class.

Best word: furious. Also close: irritated, insecure, confused.

Furious matches a big, hot anger at a serious wrong. Irritated is far too small, insecure is about self-doubt, confused is about not understanding.

Your partner says “you always do this,” and you start listing reasons you don’t.

Best word: defensive. Also close: guilty, hurt, calm.

Defensive is the urge to protect yourself from blame. Hurt may sit underneath it, guilty would mean you agree you did it, and calm is not what listing reasons feels like.

The night before a big job interview, your mind keeps running through what could go wrong.

Best word: anxious. Also close: scared, panicked, excited.

Anxious is worry about something that has not happened yet. Scared is about a clear threat in front of you, panicked is sudden and overwhelming, excited is the hopeful twin.

You hear a loud crash downstairs when you thought you were home alone.

Best word: frightened. Also close: worried, uneasy, embarrassed.

Frightened fits a sudden threat that feels real. Worried and uneasy are slower and quieter, embarrassed is about being seen.

Your boss sends “Can we talk tomorrow?” with no details.

Best word: uneasy. Also close: terrified, guilty, curious.

Uneasy is a low hum of worry with no clear reason yet. Terrified is too strong, guilty needs something you did, curious leaves out the worry.

You are about to walk on stage to sing in front of the whole school.

Best word: nervous. Also close: dreading, panicked, ashamed.

Nervous is the jittery energy right before something you care about. Dreading is a heavy wish it would not come, panicked is losing your footing, ashamed is about having done wrong.

You reach for your wallet just after stepping off a crowded train, and it is not there.

Best word: panicked. Also close: nervous, frustrated, sad.

Panicked is a sudden rush of fear that makes it hard to think. Nervous is milder, frustrated is about a block, sad comes later if it is really gone.

Every Sunday evening you feel heavy thinking about the work week ahead.

Best word: dread. Also close: nervous, sad, bored.

Dread is a heavy expectation of something unpleasant coming. Nervous has a jittery, sometimes excited edge, sad looks back rather than ahead, bored is about now.

It is your first day at a new school, and you do not know where to sit at lunch.

Best word: self-conscious. Also close: terrified, lonely, embarrassed.

Self-conscious is feeling watched and unsure how you come across. Terrified is too strong, lonely is about missing people, embarrassed comes after something happens.

Your partner has not answered your texts for six hours, which is not like them.

Best word: worried. Also close: jealous, angry, panicked.

Worried is fear for someone you care about when you do not know what is happening. Jealous assumes a rival, angry assumes they did wrong, panicked is a sudden flood.

You have three deadlines, a sick dog and a dentist appointment, all tomorrow.

Best word: overwhelmed. Also close: anxious, angry, bored.

Overwhelmed is having more than you can handle at once. Anxious is worry about what might happen, angry is about being wronged.

You put the last piece into a puzzle you have worked on for a month.

Best word: satisfied. Also close: ecstatic, grateful, amused.

Satisfied is the calm good feeling of finishing something. Ecstatic is far bigger and wilder, grateful needs someone to thank, amused is about something funny.

Your little sister rides her bike alone after you spent all weekend teaching her.

Best word: proud. Also close: relieved, content, jealous.

Proud fits when you, or someone you helped, achieves something. Relieved is about a worry ending, content is a quiet, steady happiness.

The test you were sure you failed comes back with a passing grade.

Best word: relieved. Also close: proud, ecstatic, content.

Relieved is the drop in tension when something you feared does not happen. Proud is about effort, ecstatic is bigger, content is calm and steady.

A stranger helps you carry your groceries when the bag rips in the rain.

Best word: grateful. Also close: relieved, proud, embarrassed.

Grateful is warmth toward someone who did something for you. Relieved is only about the problem ending, proud is about yourself, embarrassed is about how you looked.

A lazy Sunday on the couch with tea, a blanket and nothing you have to do.

Best word: content. Also close: bored, ecstatic, relieved.

Content is a quiet, steady happiness with what is. Bored is restless and wants more, ecstatic is high energy, relieved needs a worry that ended.

You find out you got the part in the school play you really wanted.

Best word: thrilled. Also close: content, relieved, satisfied.

Thrilled is a big jolt of excitement and joy. Content and satisfied are calmer, relieved is about a worry ending.

Your friend tells a story so ridiculous that you cannot stop laughing.

Best word: amused. Also close: joyful, surprised, embarrassed.

Amused is the light pleasure of finding something funny. Joyful is a deeper happiness, surprised is about the unexpected, embarrassed would be about you.

Your job search has been slow, and today you are invited to a second interview.

Best word: hopeful. Also close: ecstatic, relieved, confident.

Hopeful is looking forward to something good that may happen. Ecstatic is too big for a maybe, relieved is about a worry ending, confident is sure it will happen.

After a long walk by the lake, your thoughts finally slow down.

Best word: peaceful. Also close: content, bored, sleepy.

Peaceful is a still, quiet calm inside. Content is about being happy with what you have, bored wants more, sleepy is about the body.

You wave back at someone who was actually waving at the person behind you.

Best word: embarrassed. Also close: ashamed, guilty, humiliated.

Embarrassed is the quick, hot flush of a small public slip. Ashamed is about feeling bad as a person, guilty is about harming someone, humiliated is being put down by others.

You snapped at your mom when she asked a simple question, and now she is quiet.

Best word: guilty. Also close: ashamed, embarrassed, annoyed.

Guilty is about something you did that hurt someone. Ashamed points at who you are, embarrassed at how you looked, annoyed was the feeling before.

After failing your driving test, you keep telling yourself you are hopeless at everything.

Best word: ashamed. Also close: guilty, embarrassed, disappointed.

Ashamed is a feeling about your whole self, “I am bad,” not one act. Guilty is about a thing you did, embarrassed about how you looked, disappointed about the result.

A classmate reads your notebook out loud in front of everyone.

Best word: humiliated. Also close: embarrassed, guilty, nervous.

Humiliated is being exposed or put down by someone else in front of others. Embarrassed is smaller, guilty is about your own wrong, nervous is about what is coming.

You turned down a trip with your grandpa last summer, and now he can no longer travel.

Best word: regretful. Also close: guilty, sad, disappointed.

Regretful is wishing you had chosen differently. Guilty means you harmed someone, sad is the broad family, disappointed is about how something turned out.

A friend compliments you in front of a group, and you do not know where to look.

Best word: flustered. Also close: ashamed, proud, anxious.

Flustered is that warm, shy confusion when attention suddenly lands on you. Ashamed and anxious miss the pleasant part, proud is about what you did.

Your parents argue loudly at your graduation, and people nearby turn to look.

Best word: mortified. Also close: guilty, sad, angry.

Mortified is a strong embarrassment, here for people tied to you. Guilty would mean you did it, sad and angry may come later.

You realize you have been saying a coworker’s name wrong for six months.

Best word: sheepish. Also close: ashamed, guilty, humiliated.

Sheepish is mild embarrassment about a harmless mistake, with an awkward smile. Ashamed and humiliated are far heavier, guilty means real harm.

Your partner’s ex is at the same party, and you keep comparing yourself to them.

Best word: insecure. Also close: envious, embarrassed, guilty.

Insecure is doubt about your own worth or place. Envious is wanting something they have, embarrassed is about a slip, guilty is about a wrong you did.

Your partner remembers a small thing you mentioned once and surprises you with it.

Best word: touched. Also close: grateful, surprised, flattered.

Touched is being moved by someone’s care. Grateful is close but is about the gift, surprised is about the unexpected, flattered is about praise.

You find an old photo of you and your grandmother baking together.

Best word: nostalgic. Also close: sad, lonely, amused.

Nostalgic is a warm ache for a time that has passed. Sad leaves out the warmth, amused leaves out the ache, lonely is about now.

You met someone new last week, and you catch yourself smiling every time they text.

Best word: smitten. Also close: in love, content, curious.

Smitten is the giddy early pull toward someone new. In love is deeper and takes time, content is calm, curious misses the flutter.

A friend sits with you in the hospital waiting room until the news comes.

Best word: supported. Also close: grateful, relieved, loved.

Supported is feeling someone has your back right when it is hard. Grateful usually comes afterwards, relieved needs the worry to end, loved is broader.

You and your best friend finish each other’s sentences all evening.

Best word: connected. Also close: amused, comfortable, proud.

Connected is the feeling of being in sync with someone. Amused is about something funny, comfortable is ease without the closeness, proud is about an achievement.

Your partner reaches for your hand during a scary movie.

Best word: safe. Also close: amused, scared, flattered.

Safe is the settled feeling that someone is with you and you are protected. Amused and scared are about the movie, flattered is about praise.

You listen to a friend talk about their art and feel a little in awe of them.

Best word: admiring. Also close: envious, proud, intimidated.

Admiring is warm respect for someone’s qualities. Envious wants what they have, proud is about something you did or helped with, intimidated feels smaller next to them.

Your partner is away for a month, and you keep reaching for your phone to tell them small things.

Best word: longing. Also close: lonely, jealous, bored.

Longing is wanting someone who is not here. Lonely is a wider lack of connection, jealous needs a rival, bored is about having nothing to do.

A friend you have not seen in years appears at your door with flowers.

Best word: delighted. Also close: shocked, confused, startled.

Delighted is joy with a spark of surprise. Shocked fits bad news or something huge, confused means you do not understand, startled is a jump at something sudden.

A door slams behind you and you jump.

Best word: startled. Also close: scared, shocked, surprised.

Startled is the quick body jump at something sudden. Scared lasts longer, shocked is about news, surprised is the broad family.

Your teacher explains the homework twice, and you still have no idea what to do.

Best word: confused. Also close: frustrated, anxious, bored.

Confused is not understanding. Frustrated can follow when it keeps blocking you, anxious is worry, bored is a lack of interest.

You learn that two of your friends have been secretly dating for a year.

Best word: stunned. Also close: jealous, confused, guilty.

Stunned is being thrown by news you did not see coming. Jealous would mean you wish one of them were yours, confused is a lack of understanding, guilty would be about you.

An unknown number texts you a photo of a cat with no message at all.

Best word: puzzled. Also close: frightened, angry, guilty.

Puzzled is the head-scratching feeling of something that does not add up. Frightened is about a threat, angry and guilty both need a reason.

You stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time.

Best word: awed. Also close: happy, nervous, surprised.

Awed is the feeling of facing something vast that makes you feel small in a good way. Happy is broader, surprised is quicker, nervous is about risk.

Your friend who always cancels actually shows up early.

Best word: surprised. Also close: suspicious, relieved, thrilled.

Surprised fits when something you did not expect happens. Suspicious looks for a catch, relieved needs a worry, thrilled is much bigger.

You find out your quiet coworker plays drums in a band on weekends.

Best word: intrigued. Also close: shocked, jealous, confused.

Intrigued is curiosity that pulls you to know more. Shocked is too strong, jealous wants what they have, confused means it does not make sense.

Your friend posts photos from a beach vacation while you are stuck working all summer.

Best word: envious. Also close: jealous, resentful, sad.

Envious is wanting what someone else has. Jealous is fear of losing what you have to someone, resentful is a grudge, sad misses the wanting.

Your partner keeps texting and laughing with someone new from work.

Best word: jealous. Also close: envious, curious, angry.

Jealous is fear of losing someone you have to a rival. Envious is wanting something you do not have, curious misses the fear, angry is only the surface.

Someone on the train picks their teeth and wipes it on the seat.

Best word: disgusted. Also close: annoyed, angry, embarrassed.

Disgusted is the pull-back from something gross. Annoyed is about being bothered, angry about being wronged, embarrassed is about you.

A classmate brags about cheating on a test and getting away with it.

Best word: disdainful. Also close: jealous, amused, guilty.

Disdainful is looking down on how someone acts. Jealous would mean you wish you had done it, amused finds it funny, guilty would mean you did it.

It is your last day at a job you loved, and you start a better one on Monday.

Best word: bittersweet. Also close: sad, excited, nervous.

Bittersweet holds sadness and happiness at the same time. Sad and excited each name only half, nervous is about what is coming.

Your friend wins the contest you also entered, and you are glad for them and a little stung.

Best word: conflicted. Also close: envious, proud, happy.

Conflicted is two opposite feelings pulling at once. Envious and happy each name only one side, proud would fit if you had helped them win.

You sit through a 90-minute meeting where nothing concerns you.

Best word: bored. Also close: tired, frustrated, restless.

Bored is a lack of interest in what is in front of you. Tired is about energy, frustrated about a block, restless is an urge to move.

You have cried, worked and talked all week, and now you feel nothing at all.

Best word: numb. Also close: calm, bored, tired.

Numb is the flat, switched-off feeling after too much. Calm is settled and pleasant, bored wants something to do, tired is about the body.