Emotions Used in Drama
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Here is a list of over 400 emotions and emotional states relevant to the study of drama and theatre.
Emotions are a critical part of most actor training programs and character creation.
Emotions in this post can be used in exercises and activities for drama class.
| abandoned | disillusioned | lovesick |
| abashed | dismal | low |
| abominable | dismayed | loyal |
| abrupt | disoriented | lucky |
| absorbed | dispirited | mad |
| accepting | displeased | manic |
| aching | disrespectful | manipulative |
| adequate | disrupted | mean |
| admiration | dissatisfied | meditative |
| adoration | distant | melancholic |
| affected | distracted | mellow |
| affectionate | distraught | menaced |
| afflicted | distressed | menacing |
| affronted | distrustful | merry |
| afraid | disturbed | miserable |
| aggravated | doubtful | miserable |
| aggressive | downhearted | moody |
| agitated | downtrodden | morbid |
| alarmed | drained | motivated |
| alert | dreadful | mournful |
| alienated | dreary | needed |
| alone | dull | needy |
| amazed | dynamic | negative |
| ambitious | eager | neglectful |
| amused | earnest | nervous |
| angry | easy | nervous |
| anguished | ecstatic | obsessive |
| animated | edgy | offended |
| annoyed | elated | offensive |
| antagonistic | embarrassed | optimistic |
| anxious | empathic | outraged |
| apathetic | empowered | overbearing |
| appalled | empty | overconfident |
| appreciative | encouraged | overjoyed |
| apprehensive | energetic | overwhelmed |
| approving | enraged | pacified |
| ardent | enthralled | panicky |
| argumentative | enthusiastic | paranoid |
| aroused | envious | passionate |
| arrogant | euphoric | pathetic |
| ashamed | exasperated | peaceful |
| assured | excellent | pensive |
| astonished | excited | perplexed |
| astounded | exhausted | perturbed |
| attached | exhilarated | pessimistic |
| attacked | exuberant | pessimistic |
| attracted | fantastic | petrified |
| authentic | fatigued | playful |
| authoritative | fearful | pleased |
| aversive | festive | powerless |
| aware | fine | protective |
| awed | flat | proud |
| awkward | flustered | regretful |
| bad | foolish | rejected |
| balanced | forlorn | rejuvenated |
| beaming | fragile | relaxed |
| belittled | frazzled | remorseful |
| belligerent | free | resentful |
| betrayed | friendly | reserved |
| bewildered | frightened | rested |
| bitter | frisky | restless |
| bleak | frustrated | reticent |
| blessed | fulfilled | revengeful |
| blissful | furious | rude |
| blunt | genuine | sad |
| boastful | giddy | sadistic |
| boiling | glad | safe |
| bold | gleeful | satisfied |
| bored | gloomy | scared |
| bossy | glorious | sceptical |
| bountiful | glowing | secure |
| brave | glum | selfish |
| breathless | goofy | sensational |
| bright | graceful | sensitive |
| brutal | grateful | serene |
| bubbly | gratified | shaky |
| burdened | great | sharp |
| calm | greedy | sheepish |
| capable | grief | shocked |
| carefree | grief-stricken | sincere |
| cautious | grouchy | solemn |
| certain | grounded | sombre |
| cheerful | grumpy | sorrowful |
| clever | guarded | sorry |
| cocky | guilty | spirited |
| cold | happy | spontaneous |
| combative | hateful | stable |
| comfortable | healthy | startled |
| comforted | heartbroken | stressed |
| compassionate | helpful | strong |
| compulsive | helpless | superior |
| concerned | hesitant | supported |
| condescending | homesick | sure |
| confident | honest | sure |
| confounded | honored | surprised |
| confused | hopeful | sympathetic |
| conscientious | hopeless | sympathy |
| considerate | horrified | tearful |
| constructive | hostile | temperamental |
| contemplative | humble | tenacious |
| contempt | humbled | tender |
| content | humiliated | tense |
| controlling | hurt | tense |
| cooperative | hurtful | terrible |
| courageous | impatient | terrified |
| cowardly | important | threatened |
| crabby | impulsive | thrilled |
| crafty | incensed | tired |
| cranky | incompetent | tormented |
| craving | inconsolable | touched |
| crazy | indecisive | touchy |
| creative | indifferent | tranquil |
| critical | indignant | trapped |
| cross | inept | trembling |
| cruel | inferior | troubled |
| crushed | inflamed | uncertainty |
| curious | infuriated | uncomfortable |
| daring | insecure | uneasiness |
| deceived | inspired | unhappy |
| defensive | intimidated | unnerved |
| degraded | intolerant | unsettled |
| dejected | intrigued | unsure |
| delighted | invaded | upbeat |
| delirious | irate | uplifted |
| demanding | irritated | upset |
| depressed | isolated | uptight |
| deprived | jaded | vengeful |
| desolate | jealous | vibrant |
| despair | jovial | vicious |
| desperate | joyful | vilified |
| despondent | joyous | violated |
| detached | jubilant | vulnerable |
| determined | judgemental | warm |
| devastated | lazy | wary |
| devoted | liberated | weepy |
| disappointed | lifeless | wistful |
| disconcerted | light-hearted | withdrawn |
| discouraged | listless | wonderful |
| disempowered | lively | worried |
| disgraced | lonely | worthless |
| disgusted | lost | worthwhile |
| disheartened | loved | wronged |
| dishonest |
Not sure of the meaning of a word on the list? Look it up in the dictionary.
This list can be useful just as a general information about emotions in a early stage of acting studies… this list has to be classified and each of these emotions has to be decomposed into the emotion seeds in order to find out:
1) how does those emotions works,
2) where they come from,
3) how can those emotions be combined, etc
After all these procedures comes: “how can actor find or identify those emotions in his soul” and use same ones to build a realistic character upon his/hers method of acting craft.
excellent