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Negative Emotions

ACT Exam Literacy / Negative Emotions

Negative Emotions

60 Words

30m

1
embarrassment
em
ba
rrass
ment
Noun

a feeling of distress, shyness, or guilt as a result of an uncomfortable situation

She blushed with embarrassment after tripping in front of everyone.

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2
distress
dist
ress
Verb

to cause someone difficulty or hardship, particularly financial struggles or emotional turmoil

The sudden loss of his job distressed him greatly, as he struggled to pay his bills.

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3
abhorrence
ab
ho
rrence
Noun

a feeling of extreme hatred or aversion toward something or someone

His abhorrence of violence was evident in his peaceful activism and staunch opposition to war.

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4
agitation
a
gi
ta
tion
Noun

a state of extreme anxiety

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5
dread
dread
Noun

an intensely unpleasant emotion in response to danger or threat

She felt a growing dread as the storm clouds darkened overhead.

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6
dejection
de
jec
tion
Noun

a state of low spirits, sadness, or melancholy

The loss in the final match was evident in the players' faces, displaying a collective sense of dejection.

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7
despair
des
pair
Noun

a feeling of total hopelessness

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8
qualm
qualm
Noun

a feeling of doubt or uneasiness, often related to one's conscience or sense of right and wrong

She had no qualms about speaking her mind, even if her opinions were unpopular.

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9
dismay
dis
may
Verb

to cause someone to feel shocked, worried, or upset

The sudden cancellation of the event dismayed the attendees, leaving them feeling disappointed.

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10
frenzy
fren
zy
Noun

a state of wild, uncontrolled excitement or agitation

The announcement of the sale caused a frenzy among shoppers, who rushed to the store to grab the best deals.

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11
hysteria
hys
te
ria
Noun

excessive or uncontrollable fear

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12
wrath
wrath
Noun

an intense sense of rage

The protesters faced the wrath of the authorities, who responded with brutal force and violence.

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13
fright
fright
Noun

fear that is felt suddenly

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14
annoyance
a
nnoyance
Noun

a feeling of irritation or discomfort caused by something that is bothersome, unpleasant, or disruptive

The constant buzzing of the fly was a source of great annoyance.

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15
revulsion
re
vul
sion
Noun

the feeling of hatred or disgust toward someone or something

She felt a deep revulsion at the sight of the rotting food.

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16
consternation
cons
ter
na
tion
Noun

a feeling of shock or confusion

The sudden announcement caused consternation among the employees.

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17
long
long
Adjective

(of two points) having an above-average distance between them

The necklace she wore had a long chain adorned with intricate charms.

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18
aggression
agg
re
ssion
Noun

a disposition to behave aggressively

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19
twinge
twinge
Verb

squeeze tightly between the fingers

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20
anguish
ang
uish
Noun

a state of extreme physical pain or mental distress

The news of the accident brought her profound anguish as she waited for updates on her loved ones.

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21
horrific
ho
rri
fic
Adjective

causing intense fear, shock, or disgust

The movie's special effects created a horrific scene of monsters attacking the city.

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22
eerie
ee
rie
Adjective

inspiring a sense of fear or unease

The eerie silence of the abandoned house sent shivers down their spines.

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23
unsettle
un
se
ttle
Verb

to cause someone to feel worried or anxious, usually because of a change

The sudden change in his friend's behavior last week unsettled him, leaving him wondering what could be wrong.

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24
sober
so
ber
Adjective

not under the influence of alcohol or drugs

He has been sober for three years, overcoming his alcohol addiction.

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25
wistful
wist
ful
Adjective

expressing longing or yearning tinged with sadness or melancholy, often for something unattainable or lost

Walking past the park where they used to play as children, he felt a wistful pang of nostalgia for simpler times.

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26
poignant
poignant
Adjective

causing strong emotions, especially sadness or empathy

The poignant story of the elderly couple's enduring love brought tears to everyone's eyes.

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27
frantic
fran
tic
Adjective

greatly frightened and worried about something, in a way that is uncontrollable

She became frantic when she couldn't find her child in the crowded mall.

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28
downcast
down
cast
Adjective

pointing, looking, or directed toward the ground or a lower position

The soldier's eyes were downcast during the ceremony.

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29
unnerve
un
nerve
Verb

to make someone feel uneasy or anxious, disrupting their usual calm or confidence

Constant criticism unnerves her and affects her performance at work.

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30
incense
in
cense
Verb

to provoke extreme anger in a person

The decision to close down the community center without prior notice incensed the local residents.

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31
petrify
pet
ri
fy
Verb

to make someone so frightened that they cannot move or speak

The sudden appearance of the ghostly figure in the dark forest petrified the hikers.

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32
grim
grim
Adjective

experiencing or creating a sense of sadness or hopelessness in a situation or atmosphere

The news of the disaster left a grim mood hanging over the town.

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33
desolate
de
so
late
Verb

to make someone feel extremely miserable and unhappy

The loss of her parents desolated her.

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34
plaintive
plaint
ive
Adjective

showing sadness, typically in a mild manner

She gave a plaintive sigh as she looked out the window.

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35
stun
stun
Verb

to surprise or shock someone, often by something unexpected, leaving them temporarily unable to react

The unexpected news of her promotion stunned her into silence.

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36
restless
rest
less
Adjective

feeling uneasy or nervous

After a sleepless night, she felt restless and irritable throughout the day.

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37
self-conscious
self
cons
cious
Adjective

embarrassed or worried about one's appearance or actions

She felt self-conscious about her new haircut, worried that it didn't suit her face shape.

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38
apprehensive
app
re
hen
sive
Adjective

nervous or worried that something unpleasant may happen

She felt apprehensive about the upcoming job interview.

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39
frustrate
frust
rate
Verb

to make someone feel annoyed or upset for not being able to achieve what they desire

The ongoing delays frustrate her.

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40
uneasy
un
ea
sy
Adjective

prone to change or conflict

Their uneasy friendship was marked by frequent misunderstandings and unresolved issues.

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41
envious
en
vious
Adjective

feeling unhappy or resentful because someone has something one wants

She couldn't help but feel envious of her friend's luxurious vacation photos.

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42
startle
star
tle
Verb

to cause a sudden shock or surprise, resulting in a quick, involuntary reaction

The loud clap of thunder startled the sleeping dog, causing it to jump up.

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43
alarm
a
larm
Noun

a clock that makes a sound at a set time, used to wake up someone

The alarm on his bedside table rang loudly, prompting him to jump out of bed and start his day.

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44
desperate
des
pe
rate
Adjective

feeling or showing deep sadness mixed with hopelessness and emotional pain

Her eyes looked desperate after hearing the bad news.

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45
loath
loath
Adjective

unwilling to do something due to a lack of will, motivation, or consent

He was loath to take on more work, as he was already overwhelmed.

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46
mourn
mourn
Verb

to feel deeply sad usually due to someone's death

The community came together to mourn beloved elder.

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47
humiliate
hu
mi
liate
Verb

to cause someone to feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed, often by publicly exposing their weaknesses or shortcomings

The bully's cruel words were meant to humiliate his victim in front of their peers.

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48
grieve
grieve
Verb

to feel intense sorrow, especially because someone has died

The entire community came together to grieve the passing of a beloved member.

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49
yearn
yearn
Verb

to have a strong and continuous desire for something

She yearns for the freedom to pursue her passions.

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50
infuriate
in
fu
riate
Verb

to make someone extremely angry

His dishonesty infuriated his colleagues.

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51
fluster
flus
ter
Verb

to make someone feel nervous or uncomfortable, often by surprising or overwhelming them

The unexpected question from her professor flustered the student and she struggled to articulate her answer.

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52
recoil
re
coil
Verb

to suddenly move back in response to something surprising, frightening, or unpleasant

As the dentist approached with the needle, she recoiled.

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53
exasperate
e
xas
pe
rate
Verb

to deeply irritate someone, especially when they can do nothing about it or solve the problem

His repeated failure to follow instructions correctly exasperated his boss, who had to continually correct his mistakes.

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54
irritate
i
rri
tate
Verb

to annoy someone, often over small matters

The way he constantly interrupts conversations can really irritate people.

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55
outrage
out
rage
Noun

the extreme feeling of rage and anger

The news of the corruption scandal caused an outrage among the citizens, who demanded justice.

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56
vex
vex
Verb

to annoy someone by intentionally or persistently bothering them with small, annoying actions or behaviors

The constant buzzing of the mosquito vexed me all night.

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57
confound
con
found
Verb

to confuse someone, making it difficult for them to understand or think clearly

The intricate maze confounded the participants, leaving them unable to find the exit.

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58
smother
smo
ther
Verb

to cover someone or something completely

The flowers were smothered by the heavy snow, hiding them from view.

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59
lament
la
ment
Verb

to verbally express deep sadness over a loss or unfortunate situation

The community gathered to lament the passing of their beloved leader, sharing stories and expressing their deep sorrow.

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60
woe
fu
lly
Adverb

with deep sadness and sorrow

She looked woefully at the damaged artwork, realizing it couldn't be restored.

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