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ACT Exam Literacy - Negative Emotions

Here you will learn some English words related to negative emotions, such as "lament", "plaintive", "qualm", etc. that will help you ace your ACTs.

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Essential Vocabulary for ACT

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

Ex: There was a brief moment of embarrassment when he could n’t remember the password .
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distress
[noun]

a state of extreme emotional pain or suffering

Ex: His face showed clear signs of distress.
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a feeling of extreme hatred or aversion toward something or someone

Ex: The community 's abhorrence of corruption led them to demand stricter oversight and accountability from their leaders .
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agitation
[noun]

a state of extreme anxiety

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dread
[noun]

an intensely unpleasant emotion in response to danger or threat

Ex: The eerie silence of the abandoned house stirred a deep dread in the children .
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dejection
[noun]

a state of low spirits, sadness, or melancholy

Ex: Failing the exam for the second time heightened his dejection and self-doubt .
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despair
[noun]

a feeling of total hopelessness

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qualm
[noun]

a slight feeling of nausea or unease, often temporary

Ex: Seeing blood often gives people qualms.
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dismay
[noun]

the sadness and worry provoked by an unpleasant surprise

Ex: The company 's sudden closure caused widespread dismay among the employees .
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frenzy
[noun]

a state of wild, uncontrolled excitement or agitation

Ex: Her mind was in a frenzy as she tried to remember all the details for her speech .
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hysteria
[noun]

great excitement, anger, or fear that makes someone unable to control their emotions, and as a result, they start laughing, crying, etc.

Ex: She was on the verge of hysteria after hearing the shocking news .
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wrath
[noun]

an intense sense of rage

Ex: The betrayed lover 's eyes burned with wrath as she confronted the unfaithful partner .
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fright
[noun]

fear that is felt suddenly

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annoyance
[noun]

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

Ex: The frequent software glitches were an annoyance to the users .
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revulsion
[noun]

the feeling of hatred or disgust toward someone or something

Ex: She spoke with revulsion about the inhumane treatment of animals .
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a feeling of shock or confusion

Ex: She looked at the broken vase with consternation, wondering how it happened .
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longing
[noun]

a strong, persistent desire for someone or something, often accompanied by a sense of sadness

Ex: Even after all these years , his longing for her remained as strong as ever .
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hatred and anger that could lead to violent or threatening behavior

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twinge
[noun]

an unexpected and quick feeling of a particular emotion, often a negative one

Ex: Seeing the happy couple gave her a twinge of sadness as she remembered her past relationship .
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anguish
[noun]

a state of extreme physical pain or mental distress

Ex: Facing a personal crisis , she sought therapy to help navigate the overwhelming anguish and emotional pain .
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horrific
[Adjective]

causing intense fear, shock, or disgust

Ex: A horrific scream pierced the silence , sending chills down everyone 's spine .
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eerie
[Adjective]

inspiring a sense of fear or unease

Ex: The eerie howl of a distant wolf added to the unsettling ambiance of the haunted woods .
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unsettling
[Adjective]

causing feelings of unease, discomfort, or anxiety

Ex: The painting had an unsettling effect on viewers .
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sobering
[Adjective]

causing one to feel serious or thoughtful, often by showing the seriousness of a situation

Ex: The sobering truth about the risks of smoking prompted him to quit for good .
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wistful
[Adjective]

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

Ex: Listening to the sound of children playing outside , he could n't shake the wistful feeling of missing his own childhood .
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poignant
[Adjective]

causing strong emotions, especially sadness or empathy

Ex: The movie ended with a poignant scene that left the audience in tears .
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frantic
[Adjective]

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

Ex: His frantic pacing back and forth showed his anxiety before the big job interview .
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downcast
[Adjective]

(of a person or their manner) melancholic and full of grief

Ex: Despite her efforts to hide it, her downcast demeanor betrayed her inner turmoil.
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unnerving
[Adjective]

causing feelings of anxiety, fear, or a loss of confidence

Ex: His unnerving gaze made her feel as though she was being watched .
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incensed
[Adjective]

filled with intense anger or fury

Ex: Her incensed demeanor made it clear that she would not tolerate any more excuses .
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petrified
[Adjective]

frozen in place, often due to shock or fear

Ex: In the presence of the giant waves , the beachgoers were left petrified and speechless .
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grim
[Adjective]

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

Ex: The abandoned house had a grim, eerie atmosphere that sent shivers down their spines .
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desolate
[Adjective]

feeling very lonely and sad

Ex: In the desolate aftermath of the breakup , he found it hard to imagine ever feeling happy again .
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plaintive
[Adjective]

showing sadness, typically in a mild manner

Ex: Her voice was plaintive as she recounted her memories .
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stunned
[Adjective]

feeling so shocked or surprised that one is incapable of acting in a normal way

Ex: She was stunned by the beauty of the sunset over the ocean.
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restless
[Adjective]

feeling uneasy or nervous

Ex: The hot and humid weather made everyone feel restless and uncomfortable .
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self-conscious
[Adjective]

embarrassed or worried about one's appearance or actions

Ex: The actress was surprisingly self-conscious about her performance , despite receiving rave reviews from critics .
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apprehensive
[Adjective]

nervous or worried that something unpleasant may happen

Ex: The team was apprehensive about the new project 's challenging deadline .
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frustrated
[Adjective]

feeling upset or annoyed due to being unable to do or achieve something

Ex: They grew increasingly frustrated with the repeated delays .
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uneasy
[Adjective]

feeling nervous or worried, especially about something unpleasant that might happen soon

Ex: He was uneasy about the strange noises coming from the basement , fearing there might be an intruder .
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envious
[Adjective]

feeling unhappy or resentful because someone has something one wants

Ex: He felt envious watching his neighbor drive away in a brand new sports car .
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startled
[Adjective]

feeling suddenly surprised or shocked

Ex: The startled deer froze for a moment before darting into the woods .
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alarmed
[Adjective]

feeling worried or concerned due to a sudden, unexpected event or potential danger

Ex: The sudden drop in temperature left the hikers alarmed and searching for shelter.
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desperate
[Adjective]

feeling or showing deep sadness mixed with hopelessness and emotional pain

Ex: Her voice sounded desperate when she talked about her past .
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loath
[Adjective]

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

Ex: The company was loath to invest in the new project without a detailed report .
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to mourn
[Verb]

to feel deeply sad usually due to someone's death

Ex: Friends and family supported each other as they mourned the sudden loss .
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to cause someone to feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed, often by publicly exposing their weaknesses or shortcomings

Ex: She vowed to never again put herself in a situation where she could be humiliated.
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to grieve
[Verb]

to feel intense sorrow, especially because someone has died

Ex: It 's natural to grieve the loss of a close friend .
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to yearn
[Verb]

to have a strong and continuous desire for something

Ex: The artist yearns to create work that resonates with people .
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to make someone extremely angry

Ex: His condescending attitude towards his coworkers infuriated them .
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to make someone feel nervous or uncomfortable, often by surprising or overwhelming them

Ex: The last-minute presentation request flustered the employee , who had to scramble to prepare .
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to recoil
[Verb]

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

Ex: He recoiled from the sight of the gruesome accident , unable to look at the scene .
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to deeply irritate someone, especially when they can do nothing about it or solve the problem

Ex: The never-ending traffic congestion in the city exasperates commuters, leading to increased stress and frustration.
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to annoy someone, often over small matters

Ex: The ongoing chatter is irritating her .
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to cause someone to become extremely angry or shocked

Ex: Her actions on social media outraged a lot of people and led to a public outcry .
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to vex
[Verb]

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

Ex: His sarcastic comments often vex me .
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to confuse someone, making it difficult for them to understand or think clearly

Ex: The unfamiliar technology confounded the elderly couple , leaving them unable to use their new device .
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to overwhelm or restrict someone so much that they feel suffocated or unable to act freely

Ex: The small town ’s gossip and expectations began to smother her dreams of moving to a big city .
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to lament
[Verb]

to verbally express deep sadness over a loss or unfortunate situation

Ex: The mourners gathered to lament the tragic death of their community leader .
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woefully
[Adverb]

with deep sadness and sorrow

Ex: After the loss , the defeated team walked off the field woefully, reflecting on what went wrong .
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ACT Exam Literacy
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