NOTE: Most of the thesaurus content herein comes from various sources, but i have added my share based on experience as a writer. The facial expressions, in part, are from “Entusiasti Blog” (march 19, 2014). Facial expressions and other physical behavior are largely from “The Blog Muse”, emotion thesaurus posted by Angela Ackerman before she and Becca Puglisi published their books. The full list of sources is at the end.
EMOTION THESAURUS - PART 5
CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING
Take all things into account when describing a scene so that the facial expressions, body language, and context all match the situation and the reactions that you, as the author, intend it to mean. Never assume readers know what you mean. They don't know what the author is thinking.
Take all things into account when describing a scene so that the facial expressions, body language, and context all match the situation and the reactions that you, as the author, intend it to mean. Never assume readers know what you mean. They don't know what the author is thinking.
STUBBORNNESS
| The truth is that stubbornness, the dogged deter-mination not to change one's attitude or position on something. is inherited, but it generally keeps subdued. It is the situations, upbringing, and the environment that are responsible to activate it. thedeepin.wordpress.com
Facial Expression ● Closing eyes, squishing face up in a pout ● Thrusting out lower lip ● Lips turned down ● A sullen glower or glare ● Head tilted back, chin thrust upward ● Frowning, pursing lips ● Narrowing eyes | Other Physical Behavior ● A hard shake of the head ● Crossing arms ● Swiping arm across the air between yourself and another; “Enough!” gesture ● Holding your palm up to someone, signaling they stop, desist ● Raising voice, forceful or heated tone ● Saying ‘No.” or “Forget it.” ● Sarcasm, bitter words, insults or belittling ● Stiff posture ● Tightness in the face, strong jaw ● Making fists at one’s sides ● An emerging temper/anger display ● Squared shoulders, muscles rigid ● Refusing to listen ● Walking away from another person; retreating into a personal space ● Cranking up music to drown out others ● Ignoring others ● Talking to oneself, ranting or raving to justify feelings/actions ● Trying to sway others to your opinion/idea ● Heavier breathing than normal ● A temper tantrum (kicking,shouting,etc.) ●· Single-minded determination, a keen focus on goal despite pitfalls/opposition ● Refusing to give up, give in |
SULLENNESS / SULKINESS
| Pouting and sulking are people’s attempt to get their own way. Pouting is selfishness. Indicators are similar to stubbornness. Facial Expression Since sullen and sulkiness both relate to wanting your own way, the facial expression is similar to stubbornness. ● Closing eyes, squishing face up in a pout ● Thrusting out lower lip ● A sullen glower or glare ● Head tilted back, chin thrust upward ● Frowning, pursing lips ● Narrowing eyes Other Physical Behavior Look at characteristics fork Stubborn. |
|
 Surprise is often confused with fear. But when we’re afraid, our lower eyelids tighten and our eyebrows look flat and tense; with surprise, our upper eyelids rise up and our eyebrows arch. Also, our jaws drop when we’re surprised, but our lip corners go sideways when we’re afraid, making the mouth look tighter. Some experts believe our eyes open wide like this because when we’re confronted with something surprising—a long-lost friend, an unexpected award—we try to absorb as much of this new information as possible.
| Facial Expression ● Upper eyelids rise up and eyebrows arch ● Jaw drops when surprised; mouth loose ● Eyes Widen to extreme; eyes bulge ● Watering eyes Other Physical Behavior ● Hand flies to chest ● Fingers touch parted lips ● A gasp, squeal ● A small jump, flinching or leaping back ● Takes a shuffling step or two back ● A small yelp, gasp, squeal r scream ● Tingling skin ● Heavy feeling in stomach ● Sudden stiffening posture, rigid muscles ● Shaking head, voicing denial ● Struggle to speak, jittery voice ● Racing heartbeat ● Breathlessness ● Crumpling against someone else, hiding face against their shoulder or chest ● Shaking hands ● A sudden coldness (dread) that hits at the core ● Hand reaches up to lightly clasp throat ● Splay fingers out in a fan against breastbone ● Turning away from others ● Raising hand to ward off others ● A sudden onset of anger or frustration (swearing, screaming, acting violent) ● Shoving or making contact with someone involved (a punch to the arm, poking chest, pushing shoulder) ● Flight reaction; walking/running away ● Dazed look ● Voice shaky, soft, halting, disbelieving ● Asking simple questions for clarification ● A feeling of disorientation, dizziness, euphoria ● A shaky or slow smile that builds as surprise sinks in; a bark of laughter |
SUSPICIOUS / WARY / UNCONVINCED
| Facial Expression ● Tilting head ● Eyes off to the side; periodic eye roll ● Pouting lips ● A furrowed brow or raised eyebrows ● Jutting chin or chin tucked in ● Licking or biting lower lip ● Pursing lips in thought ● Pressing lips in fine line ● A condescending smile Other Physical Behavior ● Arms crossed over chest; confrontational ● Rubbing the back of the neck without making eye contact ● Clearing the throat ● General fidgeting ● Opening mouth to argue and then purposefully stopping self and uttering a platitude instead. ● Polite verbal opposition ● Biting fingernails ● Heavy sighing ● An unreadable gaze ● A delayed response ● A shake of the head ● A hesitating nod ● Shrugging ● Questioning, asking for proof, presenting possible consequences; alternatives ●·A quick eyebrow raise/eye widening, either at the person proposing the idea, or behind their back with another person present. ●·An inability to sit still, restless movements |
Other Physical Behavior - continued ● Walking away ● Rigid body posture ● Sniping remarks ● Biting the inside of the cheek ● Hmming and Hawing ● A non-committal answer, "Maybe," or "We'll see." ● Avoiding hurting feelings or escalating an argument by changing the topic/diversion rather than open support ● Refusing to speak/answer, let the silence do the talking ● Nodding, but with a pained look to show that one is still not committed ● Delaying actions, asking for more time to consider ●·Making excuses for not falling into line and agreeing ●·A smirk or eye roll ●·Flapping your hand at someone, dismissing them or idea |
SYMPATHETIC / EMPATHIC
| To be able to orientate towards altruism and compassion requires an ability to attend to it in the verbal and non-verbal presentations of others. In social interactions, approval and disapproval are signaled by facial expressions.
Facial Expression ● A sad smile or neutral expression of mouth ● Frown ● Eyes narrowing/eyebrows pulling down in concentration Other Physical Behavior ● Listening; leaning forward, showing interest; not interrupting ● Kind words, a soothing tone ● Telling someone that they aren't alone, how things will work out offering a sad smile, a nod of understanding ● Fumbling for words; not sure what to say | Other Physical Behavior - continued ● Rubbing someone's back ● Squeezing a shoulder or hand ● Lightly stroking a forearm ● Gently touching another’s face ● Other comforting physical contact ● Offering a deep sigh and thoughtful expression ● A parting hug lasting longer than normal ● An understanding nod ● Crying with the person ● Looking on the bright side ● Overt patience ● Offering advice when asked (caution suggested here) Other Not So Helpfu Physical Behavior ● Clumsy attempts to comfort: weak smile, awkward hug ● An attempt to cheer up through ‘the bright side’ outlook/analogy "Well, at least now we know," or "This could have been worse if..." ●·Using cliches (this too will pass; keep your chin up, etc) ● Giving comfort through gifts, plying a person with food, attention ● Offering unsolicited advice of a relative or well-known person ("as my grandpa used to say…") ● Fussing over the person’s appearance straightening/fluffing hair, tugging at collar, brushing shoulders, fiddling with a shirt button or tie) while talking in encouraging tones |
THREATENING
| There are two basic threatening facial expressions: i.e. angry and fearful faces. However, anger has a much greater impact than fear, as it increases both the rates of mistakes and the time of movement execution. Facial Expression Threatening expressions are very similar to anger, although a threatening person can assume a non-aggressive expression while body language expresses threat. ● Pursed lips or sneer ● Mouth turned down or open and teeth bared ● Lowered eyebrows and eyes narrowed ● Scrunched nose ● Direct eye contact; penetrating gaze ● Jaw clenched; teeth clenched ● Face may redden ● Nostrils flare Other Physical Behavior – Overt Threat ● A raised hand, fist, finger; warning of potential physical violence ● Movement toward the person threatened; within striking distance; Getting in some-one's face ● Swearing, yelling, ● Clenching/unclenching fists, nails biting into one’s palms ● Pounding fists against thighs, table, wall ● Slamming doors, cupboards, drawers |
Overt Threat - continued ● Body tense; sitting/ standing rigidly ● Muscles quivering ● Breathing noisily ● Pounding heatbeat ● Vein visibly pulsing in various body part Other Physical Behavior – Veiled Threat ● Laughter with an edge ● Talking in a cold, controlled tone ● Speaking quietly and sarcastically ● False smile that doesn’t reach to eyes ● Eyes that are cold, hard, flinty; narrowed eyes ● Sitting/standing rigidly ● Other indications of power over the threatened person |
WORRIED / ILL AT EASE
 |  |  |  |  |
| Facial Expression ● A strained or faked smile ● Wrinkled brow or quirked eyebrows ● Biting lip ● Eyebrows drawing together ● Possible circles under the eye ● Pained or watery gaze Other Physical Behavior ● General fidgeting and repetitive motions ● Biting nails or chewing at a knuckle ● Door or clock watching ● Clasping hands tight ● A stiff neck, strained muscles ● Rarely blinking ● Throat clearing ● A gaze that flits around the room, never settling on a person or object for long ● Rubbing at face repeatedly ● Clinging to loved ones ● Taking deep breaths in an effort to calm oneself | Other Physical Behavior - continued ● Pinching bridge of nose ● Stooped posture ● Pacing ● Sleeplessness ● Lack of appetite ● Loss of weight ● New wrinkles ● Rumpled, unwashed clothes ● Uncertainty over choices made ● Uncared for apearance ● Premature gray ● Inability to focus ● Jumping at the sound of the phone or doorbell ● Illogical fears, Panic attacks ● Lack of communication with others, Distancing self from others ● Bouts of sighing ● Putting up a "false front", as if everything is okay |
JUST SAYIN
■
Sources:
https://www.psychmechanics.com/facial-expressions-disgust/
http://entusiastiq.blogspot.com/2014/03/facial-expressions.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tell-someones-lying-by-watching-their-face-2016-1#take-note-of-what-youre-asking-them-5
http://www.nlp-secrets.com/how-to-tell-if-someone-is-lying.php
http://www.cccoe.net/social/bodylang.htm
http:/thedreamwithinpictures.com/blog/portrait-analysis-reveals-that-the-human-face-can-express-at-least-21-emotions
https://imotions.com/biosensor/fea-facial-expression-analysis/?creative=377770993338&keyword=facial%20expression%20analysis&matchtype=b&network=s&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImOfH2Zms8QIVi7bICh3HxQGPEAAYAiAAEgLDUvD_BwE
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cse/2015/11/29/emotion-detection-and-recognition-from-text-using-deep-learning/#:~:text=Sentiment%20Analysis%20aims%20to%20detect%20positive%2C%20neutral%2C%20or,such%20as%3A%20Gauging%20how%20happy%20our%20citizens%20are.
https://allwritealright.com/how-to-describe-facial-expressions-in-writing/
https://kathysteinemann.com/Musings/expressions/
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/words-used-to-describe-facial-expressions
https://www.nownovel.com/blog/talking-character-face/
https://thoughtcatalog.com/january-nelson/2018/06/list-of-emotions/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24724522/
https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/understanding-the-principles-of-anticipation
https://ricepsychology.com/rice-psychology-team/dr-wendy-rice/being-bored-why-its-a-good-thing-for-your-kids/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/annals-the-emotions/201508/what-do-you-look-when-you-re-bored
https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-pride-and-vs-confidence/#:~:text=%20What%20is%20the%20difference%20between%20Prid
https://listverse.com/2013/07/05/ten-compelling-origins-of-our-facial-expressions/#:~:text=10%20Common%20Facial%20Expressions%20Explained%201%20Confusion.%20An,Fear.%20...%209%20Sadness.%20...%2010%20Happiness.%20
https://thoughtcatalog.com/january-nelson/2018/06/list-of-emotions/#:~:text=Facial%20Expression%2FEmotion%3A%20Happy%20Happiness%20is%20an%20emotion%20that,studied%20throughout%20different%20philosophical%2C%20religious%2C%20and%20biological%20approaches. Go back to this one
https://thetrustambassador.com/2020/04/27/body-language-76-contempt/#:~:text=The%20most%20obvious%20body%20language%20associated%20with%20superiority,by%20looking%20down%20one%E2%80%99s%20nose%20at%20another%20person.
https://www.mindful.org/what-compassion-looks-like/#:~:text=%20This%20means%20literally%20tuning%20in%20to%20the,%E2%80%9CApproach%E2%80%9D%20signals%2C%20such%20as%20learning%20toward...%20More
https://www.ionos.com/startupguide/productivity/body-language/#:~:text=Facial%20expression%201%20Interest%2Fcuriosity%3A%20Your%20eyes%20are%20wide,wide%20and%20eyebrows%20are%20raised.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2008/06/emotion-thesaurus-entry-curiosity/
https://www.presentationprep.com/body-language-face/#:~:text=During%20a%20presentation%2C%20your%20face%20conveys%20more%20to,also%20communicate%20fear%2C%20frustration%2C%20or%20lack%20of%20control.
https://www.verywellmind.com/understand-body-language-and-facial-expressions-4147228
http://rainydaywriting.co.uk/portraying-the-emotion-of-desperation/#:~:text=%20Expressing%20the%20emotion%20of%20desperation%20%201,Needing%20or%20wanting%20something%20very%20much%20More%20
https://accuratebodylanguage.wordpress.com/tag/disgust/#:~:text=DISGUST%20usually%20involves%20the%20sense%20of%20smell%2C%20taste%2C,indicating%20disgust%3A%20Forehead%3A%20usually%20relaxed.%20Eyebrows%20are%20lowered.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_many_different_human_emotions_are_there#:~:text=Psychology%20once%20assumed%20that%20most%20human%20emotions%20fall,emotions%E2%80%94and%20they%20are%20intimately%20connected%20with%20each%20other.
The Bookshelf Muse,
http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/are_emotions_born_or_made
https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_27_basic_emotions/article.htm#:~:text=The%2027%20different%20emotions%20include%3A%201%20Admiration%202,Boredom%209%20Calmness%2010%20Confusion%20More%20items...%20
https://online.uwa.edu/news/emotional-psychology/#:~:text=Emotions%20and%20Psychology%201%20Basic%20and%20Complex%20Emotions.,Schachter-Singer%20Theory.%20...%208%20Cognitive%20Appraisal%20Theory.%2
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-cultures/201911/understanding-hate
https://www.scienceofpeople.com/microexpressions/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201407/the-one-emotion-really-hurts-your-brain
https://jenriggs.com/stress/impatience/#:~:text=Impatience%20arose%20from%20our%20hunter-gatherer%20days%20and%20told,details%2C%20see%20%E2%80%9CWhy%20Your%20Brain%20Hates%20Slowpokes%E2%80%9D%20.%29
https://onestopforwriters.com/emotions/RESIGNATION#:~:text=DEFINITION%3A%20The%20state%20of%20surrendering%20because%20one%20must%2C,little%20or%20no%20resistance%20PHYSICAL%20SIGNALS%20AND%20BEHAVIORS%3A
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/body-odd/shy-people-are-better-reading-facial-expressions-flna954293
https://thedeepin.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/psychology-of-being-stubborn/#:~:text=The%20truth%20is%20that%20stubbornness%20is%20inherited%2C%20but,the%20environment%20that%20are%20responsible%20to%20activate%20it.
https://onestopforwriters.com/emotions/RESIGNATION
■
Sources:
https://www.psychmechanics.com/facial-expressions-disgust/
http://entusiastiq.blogspot.com/2014/03/facial-expressions.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tell-someones-lying-by-watching-their-face-2016-1#take-note-of-what-youre-asking-them-5
http://www.nlp-secrets.com/how-to-tell-if-someone-is-lying.php
http://www.cccoe.net/social/bodylang.htm
http:/thedreamwithinpictures.com/blog/portrait-analysis-reveals-that-the-human-face-can-express-at-least-21-emotions
https://imotions.com/biosensor/fea-facial-expression-analysis/?creative=377770993338&keyword=facial%20expression%20analysis&matchtype=b&network=s&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImOfH2Zms8QIVi7bICh3HxQGPEAAYAiAAEgLDUvD_BwE
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cse/2015/11/29/emotion-detection-and-recognition-from-text-using-deep-learning/#:~:text=Sentiment%20Analysis%20aims%20to%20detect%20positive%2C%20neutral%2C%20or,such%20as%3A%20Gauging%20how%20happy%20our%20citizens%20are.
https://allwritealright.com/how-to-describe-facial-expressions-in-writing/
https://kathysteinemann.com/Musings/expressions/
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/words-used-to-describe-facial-expressions
https://www.nownovel.com/blog/talking-character-face/
https://thoughtcatalog.com/january-nelson/2018/06/list-of-emotions/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24724522/
https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/understanding-the-principles-of-anticipation
https://ricepsychology.com/rice-psychology-team/dr-wendy-rice/being-bored-why-its-a-good-thing-for-your-kids/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/annals-the-emotions/201508/what-do-you-look-when-you-re-bored
https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-pride-and-vs-confidence/#:~:text=%20What%20is%20the%20difference%20between%20Prid
https://listverse.com/2013/07/05/ten-compelling-origins-of-our-facial-expressions/#:~:text=10%20Common%20Facial%20Expressions%20Explained%201%20Confusion.%20An,Fear.%20...%209%20Sadness.%20...%2010%20Happiness.%20
https://thoughtcatalog.com/january-nelson/2018/06/list-of-emotions/#:~:text=Facial%20Expression%2FEmotion%3A%20Happy%20Happiness%20is%20an%20emotion%20that,studied%20throughout%20different%20philosophical%2C%20religious%2C%20and%20biological%20approaches. Go back to this one
https://thetrustambassador.com/2020/04/27/body-language-76-contempt/#:~:text=The%20most%20obvious%20body%20language%20associated%20with%20superiority,by%20looking%20down%20one%E2%80%99s%20nose%20at%20another%20person.
https://www.mindful.org/what-compassion-looks-like/#:~:text=%20This%20means%20literally%20tuning%20in%20to%20the,%E2%80%9CApproach%E2%80%9D%20signals%2C%20such%20as%20learning%20toward...%20More
https://www.ionos.com/startupguide/productivity/body-language/#:~:text=Facial%20expression%201%20Interest%2Fcuriosity%3A%20Your%20eyes%20are%20wide,wide%20and%20eyebrows%20are%20raised.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2008/06/emotion-thesaurus-entry-curiosity/
https://www.presentationprep.com/body-language-face/#:~:text=During%20a%20presentation%2C%20your%20face%20conveys%20more%20to,also%20communicate%20fear%2C%20frustration%2C%20or%20lack%20of%20control.
https://www.verywellmind.com/understand-body-language-and-facial-expressions-4147228
http://rainydaywriting.co.uk/portraying-the-emotion-of-desperation/#:~:text=%20Expressing%20the%20emotion%20of%20desperation%20%201,Needing%20or%20wanting%20something%20very%20much%20More%20
https://accuratebodylanguage.wordpress.com/tag/disgust/#:~:text=DISGUST%20usually%20involves%20the%20sense%20of%20smell%2C%20taste%2C,indicating%20disgust%3A%20Forehead%3A%20usually%20relaxed.%20Eyebrows%20are%20lowered.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_many_different_human_emotions_are_there#:~:text=Psychology%20once%20assumed%20that%20most%20human%20emotions%20fall,emotions%E2%80%94and%20they%20are%20intimately%20connected%20with%20each%20other.
The Bookshelf Muse,
http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/are_emotions_born_or_made
https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_27_basic_emotions/article.htm#:~:text=The%2027%20different%20emotions%20include%3A%201%20Admiration%202,Boredom%209%20Calmness%2010%20Confusion%20More%20items...%20
https://online.uwa.edu/news/emotional-psychology/#:~:text=Emotions%20and%20Psychology%201%20Basic%20and%20Complex%20Emotions.,Schachter-Singer%20Theory.%20...%208%20Cognitive%20Appraisal%20Theory.%2
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-cultures/201911/understanding-hate
https://www.scienceofpeople.com/microexpressions/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201407/the-one-emotion-really-hurts-your-brain
https://jenriggs.com/stress/impatience/#:~:text=Impatience%20arose%20from%20our%20hunter-gatherer%20days%20and%20told,details%2C%20see%20%E2%80%9CWhy%20Your%20Brain%20Hates%20Slowpokes%E2%80%9D%20.%29
https://onestopforwriters.com/emotions/RESIGNATION#:~:text=DEFINITION%3A%20The%20state%20of%20surrendering%20because%20one%20must%2C,little%20or%20no%20resistance%20PHYSICAL%20SIGNALS%20AND%20BEHAVIORS%3A
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/body-odd/shy-people-are-better-reading-facial-expressions-flna954293
https://thedeepin.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/psychology-of-being-stubborn/#:~:text=The%20truth%20is%20that%20stubbornness%20is%20inherited%2C%20but,the%20environment%20that%20are%20responsible%20to%20activate%20it.
https://onestopforwriters.com/emotions/RESIGNATION
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