Collocations about emotions help you express feelings naturally and fluently in English. This guide introduces the most common emotion collocations, explains how to use them in sentences, and provides synonyms, alternatives, and real-life examples for daily use and exams.

I. Common Collocations About Emotions in English
II. How to Use Collocations About Emotions in Sentences
III. Synonyms and Alternatives for Collocations About Emotions
IV. Crack the IELTS Exam With Confidence

70 common collocations about emotions in English

I. Common Collocations About Emotions in English

Collocations—groups of words that frequently occur together—are an essential part of sounding natural in English. When it comes to expressing feelings and emotional states, learning the right collocations about emotions helps learners communicate more clearly, fluently, and accurately.

Emotional collocations are common word combinations that describe specific emotional experiences. These typically take the form of:

Verb + emotion noun (e.g., express gratitude, overcome fear)
Adjective + emotion noun (e.g., intense anger, deep sadness)
Noun + noun (e.g., sense of relief, burst of laughter)

Unlike simply knowing emotional vocabulary, using collocations allows learners to combine words in ways that are idiomatically and syntactically correct—just like native speakers.

For nuanced attitude language, see Concerned in english.

1. Admiration

No.	Collocations about emotions	Example
1	Look up to someone /lʊk ʌp tuː ˈsʌmˌwʌn/	I have always looked up to my older sister for her intelligence and determination.
2	Admire someone's qualities /ədˈmaɪər ˈsʌmˌwʌnz ˈkwɒlɪtiz/	I admire my grandmother's qualities: her resilience and kindness in the face of adversity.
3	Hold someone in high esteem /hoʊld ˈsʌmˌwʌn ɪn haɪ ɪsˈtim/	The community holds the mayor in high esteem for his dedication to improving the city's infrastructure.
4	Idolize someone /ˈaɪdəˌlaɪz ˈsʌmˌwʌn/	Many teenagers idolize their favorite celebrities, often emulating their style.
5	Have a deep respect for someone /hæv ə diːp rɪˈspɛkt fɔːr ˈsʌmˌwʌn/	I have a deep respect for my mentor's wisdom and experience.
6	View someone as a role model /vjuː ˈsʌmˌwʌn æz ə roʊl ˈmɒdəl/	Growing up, I viewed my older sister as a role model for her academic achievements.
7	Be in awe of someone /biː ɪn ɔːv ʌv ˈsʌmˌwʌn/	The students were in awe of their professor's vast knowledge and captivating teaching style.
8	Hold someone in admiration /hoʊld ˈsʌmˌwʌn ɪn ˌædməˈreɪʃən/	Anna holds her father in admiration for his selflessness and generosity.
9	Respect someone's achievements /rɪˈspɛkt ˈsʌmˌwʌnz əˈtʃivmənts/	We respect our colleagues achievements in the field of technology.
10	Hold someone in reverence /hoʊld ˈsʌmˌwʌn ɪn ˈrɛvərəns/	The community holds the founder of the charity organization in reverence for her tireless efforts to help the less fortunate.

2. Encouragement in workplace

No.	Collocations about emotions	Example
1	Motivate someone to achieve their goals	Jack’s words of encouragement never failed to motivate me to achieve my goals.
2	Inspire someone to greatness	The story of her perseverance against all odds inspired many to strive for greatness in their own lives.
3	Encourage someone to pursue their dreams	Anna’s parents always encouraged her to pursue her dreams of becoming an artist.
4	Spur someone on to success	The coach's belief in his team's potential spurred them on to success.
5	Empower someone to overcome challenges	Through education and support, the organization aims to empower marginalized communities to overcome the challenges they face.
6	Ignite someone's passion for something	Robert’s enthusiasm for music ignited my passion for playing the guitar.
7	Fuel someone's drive and determination	The positive feedback from her peers fueled her drive and determination to excel in her chosen field.
8	Lift someone's spirits	A simple act of kindness can go a long way in lifting someone's spirits during difficult times.
9	Bolster someone's confidence	Richard’s mentor's words of encouragement helped bolster his confidence before the important presentation.
10	Strengthen someone's resolve	Despite facing setbacks, Maria remained determined, strengthened by her resolve.

3. Happiness

No.	Collocations about emotions	Example
1	Be filled with joy /biː fɪld wɪð dʒɔɪ/	As she walked down the aisle, the bride was filled with joy, knowing she was about to marry the love of her life.
2	Overflow with happiness /ˌoʊvərˈfloʊ wɪð ˈhæpinəs/	Winning the championship caused him to overflow with happiness.
3	Burst with delight /bɜrst wɪð dɪˈlaɪt/	When Xavia saw the surprise birthday party her friends had organized for her, she burst with delight.
4	Radiate with contentment /ˈreɪdiˌeɪt wɪð kənˈtɛntmənt/	Sitting by the fireplace with a good book in hand, Marry radiated with contentment.
5	Brim with joyfulness /brɪm wɪð ˈdʒɔɪfəlnəs/	The park was brimming with families brimming with joyfulness on a sunny day.
6	Bask in happiness /bæsk ɪn ˈhæpinəs/	After receiving the job offer she had been dreaming of, she took a moment to bask in happiness.
7	Exude bliss /ɪɡˈzud blɪs/	The newlyweds exuded bliss as they danced together for the first time.
8	Bubble over with excitement /ˈbʌbəl ˈoʊvər wɪð ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/	The children bubbled over with excitement as they unwrapped their presents on Christmas morning.
9	Beam with pleasure /bim wɪð ˈplɛʒər/	His parents beamed with pleasure as they watched him receive his diploma on graduation day.

4. Sadness

No.	Collocations about emotions	Example
1	Feel downcast /fiːl daʊnˈkæst/	Despite her best efforts, Anna couldn't shake off the feeling of failure and began to feel downcast.
2	Be overwhelmed with sorrow /biː ˌoʊvərˈwɛlmd wɪð ˈsɒroʊ/	Upon hearing the tragic news, Maria was overwhelmed with sorrow.
3	Sink into despair /sɪŋk ˈɪntuː dɪˈspɛr/	After the breakup, Jack began to sink into despair.
4	Drown in melancholy /draʊn ɪn ˈmɛlankali/	The rainy weather matched Jennie’s mood perfectly as she allowed herself to drown in melancholy.
5	Be consumed by sadness /biː kənˈsumd baɪ ˈsædnɪs/	Losing her beloved pet caused Lisa to be consumed by sadness.
6	Feel a deep sense of desolation /fiːl ə diːp sɛns ʌv ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/	Walking through the abandoned streets, Mark couldn't help but feel a deep sense of desolation.
7	Be engulfed by gloom /biː ɪnˈɡʌlfd baɪ ɡluːm/	The constant bad news in the media made Mona feel like she was being engulfed by gloom.
8	Plummet into a state of misery /ˈplʌmɪt ˈɪntuː ə steɪt ʌv ˈmɪzəri/	As the reality of financial troubles set in, Peter began to plummet into a state of misery.
9	Be shrouded in sorrow /biː ˈʃraʊdɪd ɪn ˈsɒroʊ/	The sudden loss of her friend left Lona shrouded in sorrow.
10	Be weighed down by anguish /biː weɪd daʊn baɪ ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/	The thought of facing another day filled her with dread, as Xavia felt weighed down by anguish.

5. Fear

No.	Collocations about emotions	Example
1	Be gripped by fear /biː ɡrɪpt baɪ fɪər/	Maria was gripped by fear when she heard footsteps behind her in the dark alley.
2	Quake with terror /kweɪk wɪð ˈtɛrər/	As the thunderstorm approached, he quaked with terror at the thought of lightning striking nearby.
3	Tremble with dread /ˈtrɛmbəl wɪð drɛd	The child trembled with dread as they approached the haunted house on Halloween night.
4	Shiver with fright /ˈʃɪvər wɪð fraɪt/	Jane shivered with fright when she saw a shadowy figure lurking in the dimly lit corridor.
5	Be petrified with fear /biː ˈpɛtrɪˌfaɪd wɪð fɪər/	Jack was petrified with fear as he found himself alone in the eerie graveyard at midnight.
6	Be paralyzed by terror /biː ˈpærəlaɪzd baɪ ˈtɛrər/	Sarah was paralyzed by terror when she realized she was lost in the dense forest.
7	A feeling of dread /ə ˈfiːlɪŋ ʌv drɛd/	A feeling of dread crept over me as I approached the door.
8	Be haunted by fear /biː ˈhɔntɪd baɪ fɪər/	I am haunted by fear every night, unable to escape its grasp.
9	Be consumed by apprehension /biː kənˈsumd baɪ ˌæprɪˈhɛnʃən/	Tom was consumed by apprehension as he waited for the results of his medical tests.

6. Hatred

No.	Collocations about emotions	Example
1	Feel a strong aversion to something /fiːl ə strɔŋ əˈvɜrʒən tuː ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ/	Anna feels a strong aversion to spiders and can't stand in the same room as one.
2	Have a deep dislike for something /hæv ə diːp dɪsˈlaɪk fɔr ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ/	John has a deep dislike for seafood; the smell alone makes him nauseous.
3	Detest something intensely /dɪˈtest ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ ɪnˈtensely/	I detest horror movies intensely; I can't bear to watch them.
4	Harbor animosity towards somebody /ˈhɑrbər ˌænɪˈmɒsɪti təˈwɔrdz ˈsʌmˌbɒd.i/	Despite their efforts to reconcile, Sarah still harbors animosity towards her former friend for betraying her trust.
5	Loathe something vehemently /loʊð ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ vɪˈhɛməntli/	Mark loathes country music vehemently and changes the radio station whenever a country song comes on.
6	Despise something /dɪˈspaɪz ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ/	The dictator despises any form of dissent and suppresses it intensely.
7	Abhor something completely /əbˈhɔr ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ kəmˈplitli/	Richard abhors violence completely and advocates for peaceful solutions to conflicts.
8	Have an intense distaste for something /hæv ən ɪnˈtɛns dɪsˈteɪst fɔr ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ/	Maria has an intense distaste for gossip and avoids engaging in it at all costs.
9	Disdain something strongly /dɪsˈdeɪn ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ ˈstrɔŋli/	The artist disdains commercial art strongly, preferring to focus on more meaningful projects.
10	Have an antipathy towards something /hæv ən ˈæntɪpəθi təˈwɔrdz ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ/	Ever since the incident, Lona has had an antipathy towards crowded places, feeling overwhelmed and anxious in them.

II. How to Use Collocations About Emotions in Sentences

Understanding emotional vocabulary is a great start—but being able to use collocations about emotions correctly in sentences is what makes your English sound fluent, natural, and expressive. Whether you're developing writing skills for academic essays or aiming for smoother conversations, emotional collocations help convey feelings with clarity and accuracy.

Below are three of the most common structures used in emotional collocations, along with usage tips and examples.

Verb + Emotion Noun Collocations

Collocation	Meaning / Usage	Example Sentence
Express admiration	Communicate praise or deep respect	She expressed deep admiration for her mentor.
Show frustration	Display feelings of annoyance or disappointment	He showed frustration when the plan failed unexpectedly.
Suppress anger	Hold back or hide anger internally	It's not healthy to suppress your anger in every situation.
Feel gratitude	Experience a strong sense of thankfulness	I felt genuine gratitude for their support.

Tip: These collocations are commonly used in formal writing, such as academic essays, opinion articles, or IELTS Writing Task 2.

Adjective + Emotion Noun Collocations

Collocation	Meaning / Usage	Example Sentence
Intense fear	A very strong feeling of fear or panic	The hikers experienced intense fear during the storm.
Overwhelming happiness	An extremely powerful feeling of joy	She was filled with overwhelming happiness after hearing the news.
Deep sorrow	Serious or long-lasting sadness	The novel conveys a sense of deep sorrow throughout.
Extreme excitement	A high level of enthusiasm or anticipation	There was extreme excitement before the concert.

Tip: These collocations are ideal for creative writing, emotional descriptions, or storytelling where tone and emotional range are important.

Fixed Expressions with Emotional Collocations

Fixed Expression	Meaning / Usage	Example Sentence
Burst into tears	Start crying suddenly and uncontrollably	She burst into tears after hearing the devastating news.
Be moved to tears	Be deeply emotionally touched, to the point of crying	The film’s ending moved everyone to tears.
Have mixed feelings	Experience conflicting emotions about something	He had mixed feelings about leaving his hometown.
Be at peace with yourself	Feel calm, accepting, and emotionally balanced	After years of struggle, she finally felt at peace with herself.

Tip: These expressions are commonly found in spoken English, storytelling, and sometimes in formal reflective writing (e.g., personal statements, journals, or IELTS Speaking Part 2).

By actively practicing emotional collocations in full sentences, learners can gain greater mastery of emotional expression, which is essential for building meaningful conversation, persuasive writing, and nuanced interpretation in English.

III. Synonyms and Alternatives for Collocations About Emotions

Using a wide range of collocations to express emotions is essential for developing natural and mature language skills—especially in academic writing, IELTS Speaking, or creative writing. However, repeating the same emotional collocations (e.g., “feel happy,” “express sadness,” “deep anger”) can quickly make your language sound limited or repetitive.

To solve this, you should build a strong bank of synonyms and alternative structures that convey similar emotional meanings with varied tone, intensity, or context.

Synonyms for Positive Emotion Collocations

Common Collocation	Synonyms / Alternatives	Example Sentence
Feel happy	be delighted, be overjoyed, be thrilled	She was thrilled with the results of her exam.
Show gratitude	express appreciation, give thanks, be thankful	He expressed deep appreciation for their kindness.
Sense of pride	deep satisfaction, feeling accomplished	She spoke with a deep sense of pride in her team’s effort.
Be pleased	feel content, be satisfied, be glad	They were quite satisfied with the outcome of the presentation.

Synonyms for Negative Emotion Collocations

Common Collocation	Synonyms / Alternatives	Example Sentence
Feel sad	be upset, be heartbroken, be down	He was deeply upset after hearing the disappointing news.
Express anger	vent frustration, show resentment, lash out (informal)	She vented her frustration in a strongly worded letter.
Deep fear	intense anxiety, growing panic, severe apprehension	There was growing panic among passengers as the plane shook violently.
Suffer disappointment	feel let down, experience regret, be disheartened	They felt disheartened when the project was cancelled unexpectedly.

Tip for Learners: When using synonyms, always consider the tone (formal vs. informal) and intensity. For example:

“Be delighted” is stronger and more formal than “be happy”.
“Lash out” is informal and aggressive—use it carefully in academic contexts.

Building synonym variety around emotional language not only increases your lexical resource (especially in IELTS exams), but also makes your communication more expressive and precise.

Browse IELTS vocabulary by topics for exam-ready sets.

IV. Crack the IELTS Exam With Confidence

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70 Collocations About Emotions to Boost Vocabulary