Nuanced emotions Exercises

The deciding cue is “positive and negative feelings”: it identifies the meaning “having conflicting feelings about the same thing”. Check simultaneously conflicting feelings, worry about a future threat, or relief after that threat has passed; “ambivalent” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “She feels ambivalent about the move.”.

The deciding cue is “worried that it may go badly”: it identifies the meaning “worried about something that may happen”. Check simultaneously conflicting feelings, worry about a future threat, or relief after that threat has passed; “apprehensive” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “He is apprehensive about the interview.”.

The deciding cue is “angry that colleagues”: it identifies the meaning “angry because of perceived unfair treatment”. Check anger at unfair treatment, loss of former belief, or inability to cope with excessive demands; “resentful” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “He felt resentful about the unequal workload.”.

The deciding cue is “anxiety subsided and they felt calm”: it identifies the meaning “no longer worried after a threat is removed”. Check fear subsiding into calm versus being overcome by emotion, whether positive or negative; “relieved” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “They were relieved to find everyone safe.”.

The deciding cue is “destroyed her faith”: it identifies the meaning “disappointed after discovering something is less good than believed”. Check anger at unfair treatment, loss of former belief, or inability to cope with excessive demands; “disillusioned” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “She became disillusioned with the organisation.”.

The deciding cue is “paperwork”: it identifies the meaning “unable to cope because demands are too great”. Check anger at unfair treatment, loss of former belief, or inability to cope with excessive demands; “overwhelmed” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “I felt overwhelmed by the paperwork.”.

The deciding cue is “pride but also unwanted stress”: it identifies the meaning “having conflicting feelings about the same thing”. Check simultaneously conflicting feelings, worry about a future threat, or relief after that threat has passed; “ambivalent” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The promotion brings pride but also unwanted stress, leaving him ambivalent.”.

The deciding cue is “what may happen”: it identifies the meaning “worried about something that may happen”. Check simultaneously conflicting feelings, worry about a future threat, or relief after that threat has passed; “apprehensive” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Waiting for a difficult operation tomorrow, she feels apprehensive about what may happen.”.

The deciding cue is “others received credit for her work”: it identifies the meaning “angry because of perceived unfair treatment”. Check anger at unfair treatment, loss of former belief, or inability to cope with excessive demands; “resentful” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “She was angry that others received credit for her work; she felt resentful.”.

The deciding cue is “anxiety eased into a calm sense of safety”: it identifies the meaning “no longer worried after a threat is removed”. Check fear subsiding into calm versus being overcome by emotion, whether positive or negative; “relieved” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The missing child was found unharmed, and the parents felt relieved.”.

The deciding cue is “promises were empty”: it identifies the meaning “disappointed after discovering something is less good than believed”. Check anger at unfair treatment, loss of former belief, or inability to cope with excessive demands; “disillusioned” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “After discovering that its promises were empty, former supporters became disillusioned.”.

The deciding cue is “unable to cope”: it identifies the meaning “unable to cope because demands are too great”. Check anger at unfair treatment, loss of former belief, or inability to cope with excessive demands; “overwhelmed” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “With thirty urgent tasks and no help, he felt unable to cope and completely overwhelmed.”.

The deciding cue is “childhood photos”: it identifies the meaning “fondly remembering an earlier period”. Check fond longing for past times, longing for something out of reach, or guilt about one’s own wrongdoing; “nostalgic” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Looking at her childhood photos, she felt nostalgic for the happy summers she remembered.”.

The deciding cue is “regret and guilt”: it identifies the meaning “feeling deep regret for something wrong you did”. Check fond longing for past times, longing for something out of reach, or guilt about one’s own wrongdoing; “remorseful” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “He felt deep regret and guilt for hurting her with a lie. The adjective meaning “deeply sorry for your wrongdoing” is remorseful.”.

The deciding cue is “openly refusing to obey”: it identifies the meaning “openly refusing to obey or submit”. Check the cause and direction of the feeling, not just whether it is positive or negative; “defiant” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The adjective meaning “openly refusing to obey”, rather than “angry about unfairness”, is defiant.”.

The deciding cue is “longing to be aboard”: it identifies the meaning “sadly wishing for something out of reach”. Check fond longing for past times, longing for something out of reach, or guilt about one’s own wrongdoing; “wistful” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Unable to afford any travel, she watched the departing ship with a wistful longing to be aboard.”.

The deciding cue is “unfairly blamed”: it identifies the meaning “angry because something is unfair”. Check the cause and direction of the feeling, not just whether it is positive or negative; “indignant” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “He felt indignant when he was unfairly blamed for damage he had not caused.”.

The deciding cue is “no desire for anything more”: it identifies the meaning “quietly happy and satisfied”. Check the cause and direction of the feeling, not just whether it is positive or negative; “contented” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “With her needs met and no desire for anything more, she felt quietly contented.”.

The deciding cue is “longing for past times”: it identifies the meaning “fondly remembering an earlier period”. Check fond longing for past times, longing for something out of reach, or guilt about one’s own wrongdoing; “nostalgic” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Returning to his old school filled him with fond longing for his teenage years. The adjective specifically describing this longing for past times is nostalgic.”.

The deciding cue is “guilty and sorry”: it identifies the meaning “feeling deep regret for something wrong you did”. Check fond longing for past times, longing for something out of reach, or guilt about one’s own wrongdoing; “remorseful” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Wanting to atone for betraying her friend, she felt guilty and sorry. The word describing this moral regret, rather than a sad wish for something unreachable, is remorseful.”.

The deciding cue is “refused to obey”: it identifies the meaning “openly refusing to obey or submit”. Check the cause and direction of the feeling, not just whether it is positive or negative; “defiant” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Even without feeling angry, she openly refused to obey the order. The adjective describing this refusal to submit is defiant.”.

The deciding cue is “longed for but could not pursue”: it identifies the meaning “sadly wishing for something out of reach”. Check fond longing for past times, longing for something out of reach, or guilt about one’s own wrongdoing; “wistful” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “His smile was wistful as he imagined the artistic career he longed for but could not pursue.”.

The deciding cue is “treatment was unjust”: it identifies the meaning “angry because something is unfair”. Check the cause and direction of the feeling, not just whether it is positive or negative; “indignant” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The customers were indignant at being charged twice and insisted that the treatment was unjust.”.

The deciding cue is “satisfied with what he had”: it identifies the meaning “quietly happy and satisfied”. Check the cause and direction of the feeling, not just whether it is positive or negative; “contented” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “He led a contented life, happy with his modest home and satisfied with what he had.”.