C1 · Advanced

Subtle Feelings & Moods — C1 English Vocabulary

This C1 vocabulary list gathers 60 advanced English words about subtle feelings & moods — the fine shades of mood and feeling. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. wistfulness/ˈwɪst.fəl.nəs/

    “A note of wistfulness crept into her voice.”

  2. ambivalence/æmˈbɪv.əl.əns/

    “He felt deep ambivalence about leaving.”

  3. trepidation/ˌtrep.ɪˈdeɪ.ʃən/

    “She opened the letter with trepidation.”

  4. foreboding/fɔːˈbəʊ.dɪŋ/

    “A sense of foreboding filled the room.”

  5. disquiet/dɪsˈkwaɪ.ət/

    “The news caused widespread disquiet.”

  6. unease/ʌnˈiːz/

    “He felt a growing unease.”

  7. qualm/kwɑːm/

    “She had no qualm about saying no.”

  8. misgiving/ˌmɪsˈɡɪv.ɪŋ/

    “She voiced one small misgiving.”

  9. melancholia/ˌmel.ənˈkəʊ.li.ə/

    “He sank into a quiet melancholia.”

  10. despondency/dɪˈspɒn.dən.si/

    “A mood of despondency settled over the team.”

  11. dejection/dɪˈdʒek.ʃən/

    “His face showed utter dejection.”

  12. gloom/ɡluːm/

    “An air of gloom hung over the office.”

  13. sullenness/ˈsʌl.ən.nəs/

    “Her sullenness worried her parents.”

  14. petulance/ˈpet.jə.ləns/

    “He reacted with childish petulance.”

  15. indignation/ˌɪn.dɪɡˈneɪ.ʃən/

    “She was full of righteous indignation.”

  16. exasperation/ɪɡˌzɑː.spərˈeɪ.ʃən/

    “He sighed in exasperation.”

  17. vexation/vekˈseɪ.ʃən/

    “Much to her vexation, the train was late.”

  18. agitation/ˌædʒ.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

    “He paced the room in agitation.”

  19. wariness/ˈweə.ri.nəs/

    “She eyed the stranger with wariness.”

  20. reticence/ˈret.ɪ.səns/

    “His reticence made him hard to read.”

  21. diffidence/ˈdɪf.ɪ.dəns/

    “She spoke with surprising diffidence.”

  22. contrition/kənˈtrɪʃ.ən/

    “He showed genuine contrition.”

  23. penitence/ˈpen.ɪ.təns/

    “Her penitence seemed sincere.”

  24. compunction/kəmˈpʌŋk.ʃən/

    “He felt no compunction at all.”

  25. rue/ruː/

    “You will rue this decision.”

  26. hankering/ˈhæŋ.kər.ɪŋ/

    “She had a hankering for adventure.”

  27. craving/ˈkreɪ.vɪŋ/

    “He had a craving for chocolate.”

  28. reverie/ˈrev.ər.i/

    “She drifted into a reverie.”

  29. equanimity/ˌek.wəˈnɪm.ɪ.ti/

    “He faced the crisis with equanimity.”

  30. composure/kəmˈpəʊ.ʒə/

    “She kept her composure under fire.”

  31. fortitude/ˈfɔː.tɪ.tjuːd/

    “He bore the pain with fortitude.”

  32. rapture/ˈræp.tʃə/

    “The crowd was in rapture.”

  33. jubilation/ˌdʒuː.bɪˈleɪ.ʃən/

    “There were scenes of jubilation.”

  34. exhilaration/ɪɡˌzɪl.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

    “She felt pure exhilaration.”

  35. contentment/kənˈtent.mənt/

    “A deep contentment came over him.”

  36. solitude/ˈsɒl.ɪ.tjuːd/

    “She craved a little solitude.”

  37. yearn/jɜːn/

    “They yearn for the old days.”

  38. brood/bruːd/

    “He tends to brood over failures.”

  39. fret/fret/

    “Do not fret about the result.”

  40. wallow/ˈwɒl.əʊ/

    “He likes to wallow in self-pity.”

  41. relish/ˈrel.ɪʃ/

    “I relish a good debate.”

  42. savour/ˈseɪ.və/

    “He paused to savour the moment.”

  43. angst/æŋkst/

    “The novel captures teenage angst.”

  44. wretchedness/ˈretʃ.ɪd.nəs/

    “The poem conveys utter wretchedness.”

  45. euphoric/juːˈfɒr.ɪk/

    “She felt euphoric after winning.”

  46. forlorn/fəˈlɔːn/

    “He gave a forlorn sigh.”

  47. crestfallen/ˈkrest.fɔː.lən/

    “She looked crestfallen at the news.”

  48. disconsolate/dɪsˈkɒn.sə.lət/

    “He was disconsolate after the loss.”

  49. apprehensive/ˌæp.rɪˈhen.sɪv/

    “She felt apprehensive about the move.”

  50. wary/ˈweə.ri/

    “Be wary of strangers online.”

  51. perturbed/pəˈtɜːbd/

    “He seemed perturbed by the question.”

  52. flustered/ˈflʌs.təd/

    “She got flustered during the interview.”

  53. rueful/ˈruː.fəl/

    “He gave a rueful smile.”

  54. placid/ˈplæs.ɪd/

    “She has a placid temperament.”

  55. tranquil/ˈtræŋ.kwɪl/

    “The lake was utterly tranquil.”

  56. morose/məˈrəʊs/

    “He grew morose and silent.”

  57. despondent/dɪˈspɒn.dənt/

    “She felt despondent about the future.”

  58. elated/ɪˈleɪ.tɪd/

    “He was elated by the offer.”

  59. buoyant/ˈbɔɪ.ənt/

    “She was in a buoyant mood.”

  60. doleful/ˈdəʊl.fəl/

    “The dog gave a doleful look.”