A Comprehensive List of Moods [Top Mood Words List]

Abraham Lincoln famously said:

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Would you agree?

Some days it comes naturally, right? It’s easy to look on the bright side when you’re feeling optimistic and upbeat.

But what about those days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

What about those times when you know you feel something, but can’t quite put your finger on it?

It’s not always easy to find the right word to describe our feelings and emotions.

Have you ever wished there was a long list of moods you could scan to find that perfect word to describe how you feel?

You’re in luck!

I’ve put together a comprehensive list of moods to match every emotion you could possibly experience.

After all, some days “happy” and “sad” just aren’t specific enough.

Keep reading for the ultimate mood words list, along with some tips to help you identify and change your mood.

Interested in mood words? You might also like these…

What Is a “Mood” Anyway?

Would you believe there are over 3,000 words in the English language that describe emotions?

Some of these words are generic, such as happy, sad, and anxious.

Other words dig a little deeper.

For example, if “anxious” isn’t specific enough, you could say that you’re concerned, distressed, jittery, or worried sick.

We use expressions and phrases like these to describe how we feel.

Furthermore, experts explain that we have 4 kinds of basic emotions:

Happiness
Sadness
Fear
Anger

Of course, each of these major emotions can be broken down into hundreds (or even thousands) of more specific feelings.

This is where our “mood” comes in.

It’s defined as the predominant feeling or conscious state of our mind.

Emotions tend to last for a few seconds to a few minutes, while moods can last hours, days, or even longer.

It’s usually easy to identify our emotional triggers.

We smile when we see a puppy, we feel amused when someone tells us a joke, and we feel annoyed when someone cuts us off in traffic.

But it’s often more challenging to figure out why we’re in the particular “mood” we’re in.

We may have something important we need to do, but we’re not “in the mood” to do it.

Or we might search for the perfect “mood music” to match our feelings at the time.

We might even experience “mood swings” that make our emotions bounce around like a ping-pong ball.

So then, how can you identify your current mood? Let’s start with the positive.

Positive Mood Words List

Here’s a long list of moods to choose from when “happy” just doesn’t cut it.

Joyful
Liberated
Ecstatic
Interested
Amused
Inquisitive
Proud
Important
Confident
Accepted
Respected
Fulfilled
Powerful
Courageous
Provocative
Peaceful
Hopeful
Loving
Intimate
Sensitive
Playful
Optimistic
Inspired
Open
Amazed
Excited
Astonished
Surprised
Awestruck
Eager
Energetic
Enthralled
Rejuvenated
Relaxed
Relieved
Satisfied
Pleased
Silly
Smart
Thankful
Sympathetic
Loved
Amused
Blissful
Cheerful
Chipper
Content
Determined
Flirtatious
High
Hopeful
Jubilant
Mischievous
Naughty
Nerdy
Giggly
Giddy
Grateful
Astonished
Calm
Comfortable
Dignified
Dreamy
Empowered
Enlightened
Exhilarated
Harmonious
Hyper
Idyllic
Light-hearted
Mellow
Nostalgic
Passionate
Safe
Sentimental
Touched
Thoughtful
Trustful

Negative Moods Words List

Would it surprise you to learn that there are far more negative mood words than positive ones?

Perhaps we have an easier time identifying positive emotions than negative ones?

Or, as studies suggest, it could be that negative moods are just as contagious as germs.

Maybe when we pick up on someone else’s bad mood, it’s harder to identify the exact emotion attached to it.

Whatever the reason, here’s a long list of moods that go beyond simply being “sad” or “tired”.

Bored
Apathetic
Indifferent
Lonely
Abandoned
Isolated
Depressed
Empty
Inferior
Powerless
Despair
Vulnerable
Ignored
Victimised
Guilty
Ashamed
Remorseful
Disgust
Disapproval
Loathing
Judgmental
Repugnant
Revolted
Awful
Revulsion
Detestable
Avoidance
Aversion
Hesitant
Anger
Distant
Critical
Sceptical
Sarcastic
Suspicious
Withdrawn
Frustrated
Irritated
Infuriated
Aggressive
Provoked
Hostile
Mad
Furious
Enraged
Hateful
Resentful
Violated
Threatened
Jealous
Insecure
Hurt
Embarrassed
Devastated
Fearful
Humiliated
Disrespected
Ridiculed
Rejected
Alienated
Inadequate
Submissive
Worthless
Insignificant
Insecure
Anxious
Worried
Troubled
Overwhelmed
Scared
Frightened
Terrified
Shocked
Dismayed
Startled
Confused
Disillusioned
Perplexed
Stressed
Restless
Rushed
Sick
Sleepy
Tired
Weird
Uncomfortable
Envious
Apathetic
Blah
Bittersweet
Blank
Cold
Complacent
Cranky
Groggy
Crappy
Crumpy
Crushed
Dark
Alone
Depressed
Dirty
Devious
Disappointed
Drained
Discontent
Disengaged
Exhausted
Gloomy
Morose
Irate
Hungry
Dejected
Listless
Lethargic
Melancholy
Predatory
Indescribable
Lazy
Numb
Annoyed
Apprehensive
Brooding
Critical
Fatalistic
Futile
Heartbroken
Intimidated
Nauseated
Pensive
Powerless
Tense
Vengeful

How to Use This List of Moods

Wow, that was a lot of words! Now here’s the million-dollar question: What are you going to do with them?

One way you can use this list of moods is to boost your emotional intelligence.

This involves recognising and regulating your own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

Let’s break this down into three easy-to-follow steps.

1. Identify Your Feelings from This Mood Words List

An emotionally intelligent person is someone who’s deeply in touch with their emotions.

More than that, they’re highly conscious and aware of their own emotional state.

This includes the obvious emotions (i.e., sadness, joy) as well as feelings that are more subtle (i.e., fatalistic, harmonious).

It’s not a matter of having a better vocabulary — although that helps too.

Instead, it stems from being able to pause, identify, and understand what they’re feeling.

Then, rather than reacting to the feeling, an emotionally intelligent person knows how to manage the emotion.

For example, let’s say your mood is “fearful.”

Stop for a moment and think about who or what is making you feel that way.

Do you feel alienated from your peers at work or school?
Did someone say something that made you feel worthless?
Are you overwhelmed by a task you haven’t completed yet?
Do you feel inadequate to handle a new responsibility?
Are you anxious about finding a job or making ends meet?

Do you see how each of these mood words goes far beyond the basic concept of “fear?”

By stopping to think about why you’re feeling a certain way, you can decide if it’s the best mood for your current situation or if you need to try to change your mood.

2. Acknowledge & Accept Your Current Mood

Once you’ve identified your mood, acknowledge the feeling.

You could use a phrase like:

“I’m feeling very lonely tonight.”
“I’m extremely angry right now.”
“I’m confident I can handle this task.”
“I’m annoyed because I didn’t get my way.”
“I’m inspired by what I learned today.”

Say it silently to yourself or, if you prefer, repeat the words aloud.

As you do, assess your current situation and decide whether your present mood is acceptable.

Remember that it’s okay to have negative feelings sometimes.

It’s natural to feel bored and restless on a rainy afternoon. It’s understandable if you feel irritated that you have to study for a test when your friends are going out to have fun.

All of our emotions and moods are understandable and acceptable.

However, this doesn’t mean you have to hold on to them!

You can choose to let go of a mood that isn’t beneficial. You can also learn to better regulate your emotions by becoming proactive instead of reactive.

This process is called emotional regulation — the ability to reduce the intensity of your feelings and moods.

This sounds great, but how do you actually do it?

3. Focus on Positive Mood Describing Words

In this case, it really is mind over matter.

If there’s a negative emotion or mood blocking the way of what you want to accomplish, you need to redirect your thoughts to a more positive space.

For example, are you feeling anxious, inferior, or insecure before a competition?

Focus on words like “confident,” “optimistic,” or “superior” to flip your mood around.

As another example, let’s say you’re feeling annoyed and grumpy because you have to stay home and study. Positive mood words like “interested,” “alert,” and “focused” could help you banish that bad mood and get down to business.

Identify the best mood you could have for the situation you’re facing.

Think about which moods from the list above will help you to achieve your goal.

With a little bit of practice, you can gain control of your emotions and your moods.

How to Get Into a Better Mood

When you’re in a good mood, it’s unlikely you’ll want to dwell on negative things.

But when it’s the other way around, it’s a lot more challenging.

How can you improve your mood when you’re feeling dejected or gloomy?

Remember these six P’s that lead to positive thinking.

1. Purpose

If you don’t already have a clear purpose in mind, sit down for a minute and find your motivation.

Do you need to get your studying done now so you can watch your favourite show later?

Do you need to adopt a sympathetic mindset to comfort a colleague who just lost their mother?

Get clear on what you want and need to do and, most importantly, why you need to do it.

This is the first step in hitting your mental reset button.

2. People

Is there someone who can help you to feel the way you want to feel?

Surround yourself with people who will work with you to accomplish your goals.

If you need to pull an all-night study session, you’ll have better luck with a focused classmate than your chatty best friend.

And if you’re not sure what to say to encourage your colleague, could you reach out to a friend who experienced a similar loss?

3. Place

Our surroundings have a powerful effect on our moods.

Clutter, for example, can lead to anxiety and procrastination, while tidy spaces encourage feelings of focus and calm.

Dark, cold spaces can leave us feeling unmotivated, while harsh lighting and noisy environments can make us feel agitated.

If you’re in a mental funk, try switching up your location.

If you’re having trouble concentrating on your studies, you may need a quieter, warmer, or brighter room.

Or you may need a complete change of scenery altogether, like your favourite coffee shop (the caffeine won’t hurt either).

4. Posture

You guessed it — the simple act of physical movement can have a tremendous effect on your mood.

The key is to pick movements that will bring your body into the desired mood.

To get your mind in gear for studying, try a focus-driven activity like yoga or Tai Chi.

If you need more energy, do some jumping jacks or go for a brisk walk to get your heart pumping.

To calm your mind before sleep, do some gentle stretching combined with deep breathing.

5. Playlist

We mentioned “mood music” earlier, but this is more than just a euphemism.

Music has an incredibly profound effect on our emotions and is one of the key ways to change our mood.

Few things have the ability to affect emotion like music.

There are no hard and fast rules here — it’s all about finding the words, melodies, and rhythms that resonate with you.

Bonus tip: Create playlists ahead of time that match certain moods and fill them with songs that inspire you!

6. Promotion

Finally, promote the mood you want to adopt with self-talk.

It’s not as crazy as it sounds!

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “You got this!” or “Okay, it’s time to get serious,” you’ve already experienced the power of self-talk.

Think of your positive mood as a mantra you want to adopt.

Repeat it until you believe it, then repeat it some more until you feel it.

Powerful Words to Describe Your Mood

It’s not always easy to find the right word to describe how we feel.

The next time you find yourself in that predicament, refer back to this list of moods.

Then you’ll know whether you feel elated, cynical, nostalgic, powerless, or anything in between!

Would you like more advice on how to feel and perform your very best? This mood words list is just the beginning.

Keep browsing this site for expert guidance to help you become wise, healthy, and wealthy.

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