Verbs of feeling

abase
cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
 
abash
cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
 
abhor
find repugnant
 
abreact
discharge bad feelings or tension through verbalization
 
acerbate
cause to be bitter or resentful
 
ache
have a desire for something or someone who is not present
 
admire
feel admiration for
 
adore
love intensely
 
affect
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
 
afflict
cause great unhappiness for; distress
 
affright
cause fear in
 
aggravate
exasperate or irritate
 
aggrieve
cause to feel sorrow
 
agitate
cause to be agitated, excited, or roused
 
agonise
suffer agony or anguish
 
agonise
cause to agonize
 
alarm
fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised
 
alienate
make withdrawn or isolated or emotionally dissociated
 
alienate
arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness
 
allay
lessen the intensity of or calm
 
ambition
have as one's ambition
 
anger
make angry
 
anger
become angry
 
anguish
suffer great pains or distress
 
anguish
cause emotional anguish or make miserable
 
animate
heighten or intensify
 
annoy
cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
 
antagonise
provoke the hostility of
 
anticipate
be excited or anxious about
 
appal
strike with disgust or revulsion
 
appeal
be attractive to
 
appease
cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
 
appreciate
recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
 
apprehend
anticipate with dread or anxiety
 
arouse
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
 
arouse
stimulate sexually
 
ask for
increase the likelihood of
 
assure
cause to feel sure; give reassurance to
 
atone
turn away from sin or do penitence
 
awe
inspire awe in
 
badger
annoy persistently
 
ball over
surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off
 
ballyrag
be bossy towards
 
bask
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
 
be on cloud nine
feel extreme happiness or elation
 
beam
experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion
 
beatify
make blessedly happy
 
beatify
fill with sublime emotion
 
becharm
attract; cause to be enamored
 
beckon
appear inviting
 
bedevil
treat cruelly
 
begrudge
be envious of; set one's heart on
 
begrudge
wish ill or allow unwillingly
 
bemuse
cause to be confused emotionally
 
benight
overtake with darkness or night
 
beset
annoy continually or chronically
 
besiege
cause to feel distressed or worried
 
betray
disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake
 
blow a fuse
get very angry and fly into a rage
 
boil
be in an agitated emotional state
 
bore
cause to be bored
 
bother
make confused or perplexed or puzzled
 
bother
make nervous or agitated
 
brace
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
 
break down
lose control of one's emotions
 
break someone's heart
cause deep emotional pain and grief to somebody
 
break up
suffer a nervous breakdown
 
break
force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
 
bridle
anger or take offense
 
bring
attract the attention of
 
bring down
cause to be enthusiastic
 
bring out
encourage to be less reserved
 
brood
be in a huff; be silent or sullen
 
bruise
hurt the feelings of
 
bubble over
overflow with a certain feeling
 
buck up
gain courage
 
buffalo
intimidate or overawe
 
buoy up
make more cheerful
 
burn
feel strong emotion, especially anger or passion
 
calm
become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation
 
calm
make calm or still
 
care
feel concern or interest
 
care a hang
show no concern or interest; always used in the negative
 
care for
have a liking, fondness, or taste (for)
 
care for
be fond of; be attached to
 
care
prefer or wish to do something
 
care
be concerned with
 
cark
disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed
 
cast down
lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
 
chafe
feel extreme irritation or anger
 
cheer
give encouragement to
 
chill
depress or discourage
 
churn up
cause aversion in; offend the moral sense of
 
cling
to remain emotionally or intellectually attached
 
cloud
make gloomy or depressed
 
combust
cause to become violent or angry
 
come short
fail to meet (expectations or standards)
 
comfort
give moral or emotional strength to
 
commiserate
to feel or express sympathy or compassion
 
compassionate
share the suffering of
 
compose
calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet
 
condole
express one's sympathetic grief, on the occasion of someone's death
 
confuse
cause to feel embarrassment
 
congratulate
be proud of
 
consternate
fill with anxiety, dread, dismay, or confusion
 
contemn
look down on with disdain
 
content
make content
 
control
maintain influence over (others or oneself) skillfully, usually to one's advantage
 
cool off
feel less enamoured of something or somebody
 
cotton
take a liking to
 
cotton up
ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior
 
covet
wish, long, or crave for (something, especially the property of another person)
 
cow
subdue, restrain, or overcome by affecting with a feeling of awe; frighten (as with threats)
 
craze
cause to go crazy; cause to lose one's mind
 
crucify
hold within limits and control
 
crush
humiliate or depress completely
 
dash
cause to lose courage
 
deflect
draw someone's attention away from something
 
degrade
reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
 
dehumanise
deprive of human qualities
 
delight
hold spellbound
 
delight
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
 
derange
derange mentally, throw out of mental balance; make insane
 
desire
express a desire for
 
desire
expect and wish
 
desire
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
 
despair
abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart
 
despond
lose confidence or hope; become dejected
 
detest
dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards
 
devour
enjoy avidly
 
die
feel indifferent towards
 
die
be brought to or as if to the point of death by an intense emotion such as embarrassment, amusement, or shame
 
die
languish as with love or desire
 
disappoint
fail to meet the hopes or expectations of
 
disarm
make less hostile; win over
 
discomfit
cause to lose one's composure
 
discontent
make dissatisfied
 
discountenance
look with disfavor on
 
discourage
deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged
 
disenchant
free from enchantment
 
disgruntle
put into a bad mood or into bad humour
 
dishearten
take away the enthusiasm of
 
dislike
have or feel a dislike or distaste for
 
displease
give displeasure to
 
dissatisfy
fail to satisfy
 
dissolve
lose control emotionally
 
dissolve
cause to lose control emotionally
 
distress
cause mental pain to
 
disturb
move deeply
 
dither
act nervously; be undecided; be uncertain
 
dither
make a fuss; be agitated
 
domineer
rule or exercise power over (somebody) in a cruel and autocratic manner
 
dote
shower with love; show excessive affection for
 
draw
elicit responses, such as objections, criticism, applause, etc.
 
draw out
make more sociable
 
dread
be afraid or scared of; be frightened of
 
drift apart
lose personal contact over time
 
drool over
envy without restraint
 
drool
be envious, desirous, eager for, or extremely happy about something
 
eat into
gnaw into; make resentful or angry
 
eat
worry or cause anxiety in a persistent way
 
efface
make inconspicuous
 
elate
fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
 
electrify
excite suddenly and intensely
 
emote
give expression or emotion to, in a stage or movie role
 
encourage
inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
 
endear
make attractive or lovable
 
enervate
disturb the composure of
 
engrave
impress or affect deeply
 
enjoy
get pleasure from
 
enrage
put into a rage; make violently angry
 
enshrine
hold sacred
 
entertain
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
 
enthuse
cause to feel enthusiasm
 
envy
feel envious towards; admire enviously
 
exasperate
make furious
 
excite
arouse or elicit a feeling
 
excite
stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of
 
excruciate
torment emotionally or mentally
 
experience
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
 
express emotion
give verbal or other expression to one's feelings
 
fall apart
lose one's emotional or mental composure
 
fall for
fall in love with; become infatuated with
 
fancy
have a fancy or particular liking or desire for
 
fascinate
to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
 
fear
be uneasy or apprehensive about
 
fear
be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement
 
fear
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
 
fear
regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of
 
feast one's eyes
look at with great enjoyment
 
feel like
have an inclination for something or some activity
 
ferment
be in an agitated or excited state
 
ferment
work up into agitation or excitement
 
fire up
arouse or excite feelings and passions
 
fluster
cause to be nervous or upset
 
fluster
be flustered; behave in a confused manner
 
fly high
be elated
 
foam at the mouth
be in a state of uncontrolled anger
 
freak
lose one's nerve
 
fret
cause annoyance in
 
fret
be agitated or irritated
 
fret
worry unnecessarily or excessively
 
fuel
stimulate
 
fume
be mad, angry, or furious
 
gall
irritate or vex
 
galvanise
to stimulate to action
 
get
evoke an emotional response
 
get
irritate
 
ghost
haunt like a ghost; pursue
 
gladden
become glad or happy
 
gladden
make glad or happy
 
glow
be exuberant or high-spirited
 
goad
give heart or courage to
 
gratify
make happy or satisfied
 
grieve
feel grief
 
grudge
accept or admit unwillingly
 
grudge
bear a grudge; harbor ill feelings
 
hamstring
make ineffective or powerless
 
handle
show and train
 
hanker
desire strongly or persistently
 
hero-worship
love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
 
hit home
refer to or be relevant or familiar to
 
hold over
intimidate somebody (with a threat)
 
hope
be optimistic; be full of hope; have hopes
 
humanise
make more humane
 
humble
cause to be unpretentious
 
hype up
get excited or stimulated
 
impress
impress positively
 
incline
feel favorably disposed or willing
 
infatuate
arouse unreasoning love or passion in and cause to behave in an irrational way
 
ingratiate
gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
 
inhibit
make (someone) self-conscious and as a result unable to act naturally
 
interest
excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of
 
intimidate
make timid or fearful
 
intimidate
to compel or deter by or as if by threats
 
invite
give rise to a desire by being attractive or inviting
 
itch
have a strong desire or urge to do something
 
jar
affect in a disagreeable way
 
jolt
disturb (someone's) composure
 
joy
feel happiness or joy
 
keen
express grief verbally
 
kill
overwhelm with hilarity, pleasure, or admiration
 
knock out
overwhelm with admiration
 
lacerate
deeply hurt the feelings of; distress
 
lech after
have a strong sexual desire for
 
like
want to have
 
like
be fond of
 
like
find enjoyable or agreeable
 
lock
hold fast (in a certain state)
 
look down on
regard with contempt
 
lose
suffer the loss of a person through death or removal
 
love
have a great affection or liking for
 
love
be enamored or in love with
 
lull
calm by deception
 
madden
make mad
 
madden
drive up the wall; go on someone's nerves
 
miff
cause to be annoyed
 
miss
feel or suffer from the lack of
 
moon about
be apathetic, gloomy, or dazed
 
mortify
practice self-denial of one's body and appetites
 
mourn
feel sadness
 
mourn
observe the customs of mourning after the death of a loved one
 
move
arouse sympathy or compassion in
 
nag
worry persistently
 
nerve
get ready for something difficult or unpleasant
 
obsess
be preoccupied with something
 
offend
cause to feel resentment or indignation
 
overcome
overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
 
overjoy
cause to feel extremely joyful or happy
 
panic
cause sudden fear in or fill with sudden panic
 
panic
be overcome by a sudden fear
 
peeve
cause to be annoyed, irritated, or resentful
 
pierce
move or affect (a person's emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply
 
please
give satisfaction
 
please
be the will of or have the will (to)
 
pother
make upset or troubled
 
pour cold water on
be discouraging or negative about
 
prefer
like better; value more highly
 
preoccupy
engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively
 
prepossess
cause to be preoccupied
 
prepossess
make a positive impression (on someone) beforehand
 
prick
to cause a sharp emotional pain
 
pride oneself
feel proud of
 
puff
make proud or conceited
 
put off
cause to feel intense dislike or distaste
 
puzzle
be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide
 
rack
stretch to the limits
 
rage
feel intense anger
 
raise the roof
get very angry
 
recapture
experience anew
 
reduce
lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
 
regret
feel sad about the loss or absence of
 
regret
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
 
rejoice
be ecstatic with joy
 
rekindle
arouse again
 
repel
be repellent to; cause aversion in
 
resent
feel bitter or indignant about
 
retire
lose interest
 
rise
become heartened or elated
 
romance
have a love affair with
 
ruffle
discompose
 
ruffle
trouble or vex
 
sadden
make unhappy
 
sadden
come to feel sad
 
scruple
raise scruples
 
shame
cause to be ashamed
 
shock
strike with horror or terror
 
shout down
silence or overwhelm by shouting
 
sizzle
seethe with deep anger or resentment
 
smite
affect suddenly with deep feeling
 
smolder
have strong suppressed feelings
 
spook
frighten or scare, and often provoke into a violent action
 
stagger
astound or overwhelm, as with shock
 
steam
get very angry
 
sting
cause an emotional pain, as if by stinging
 
stir
affect emotionally
 
strain
test the limits of
 
strike a chord
evoke a reaction, response, or emotion
 
strike dumb
render speechless, as by surprising or shocking
 
stultify
prove to be of unsound mind or demonstrate someone's incompetence
 
suffer
experience (emotional) pain
 
sweep away
overwhelm emotionally
 
sympathise
share the feelings of; understand the sentiments of
 
tease
to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them
 
tempt
try to seduce
 
terrify
fill with terror; frighten greatly
 
thrill
feel sudden intense sensation or emotion
 
titillate
excite pleasurably or erotically
 
tribulate
oppress or trouble greatly
 
try
give pain or trouble to
 
unman
cause to lose one's nerve
 
vex
disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress
 
warm to
become excited about
 
wean
detach the affections of
 
weigh down
be oppressive or disheartening to
 
wish
hope for; have a wish
 
wish
feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of
 
work
gratify and charm, usually in order to influence
 
worry
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
 
worship
show devotion to (a deity)
 
wow
impress greatly
 
yearn
have affection for; feel tenderness for
 
zap
strike suddenly and with force