This list includes 21 Emotions that start with C, from “Calm” to “Curiosity”. Many of these words describe moods, social feelings, and states useful for writing, teaching, or therapy.
Emotions that start with C are feelings expressed by words beginning with the letter C, from calmness to curiosity. Many English C-words for feelings trace back to Latin or Old French, showing language influences on emotion labels.
Below you’ll find the table with Emotion, Type, Definition, and Example.
Emotion: Use this column to find the specific feeling name, so you can choose precise words for writing or teaching.
Type: Shows if the emotion is Positive, Negative, or Neutral, helping you pick words that match tone.
Definition: One-sentence description clarifying how the feeling feels or appears, so you quickly understand usage.
Example: A short sentence showing the emotion in context, which helps you see natural usage and tone.
Emotions that start with C
| Emotion | Valence | Typical intensity | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calm | Positive | 3 | A peaceful, relaxed state |
| Contentment | Positive | 4 | Satisfied, quiet happiness |
| Contempt | Negative | 6 | Disdain or scorn toward someone |
| Compassion | Positive | 6 | Sympathetic concern for others’ suffering |
| Confusion | Neutral | 4 | Lack of understanding or clarity |
| Curiosity | Positive | 5 | Desire to learn or know more |
| Cheerfulness | Positive | 5 | A light, lively happiness |
| Chagrin | Negative | 5 | Vexation at failure or embarrassment |
| Contrition | Negative | 6 | Remorse for wrongdoing |
| Compunction | Negative | 4 | Guilt-driven unease or moral discomfort |
| Complacency | Negative | 3 | Self-satisfied neglectful comfort |
| Comfort | Positive | 4 | Relief from distress or ease |
| Composure | Positive | 3 | Calm self-control under pressure |
| Concern | Negative | 5 | Worry or care about potential problems |
| Confidence | Positive | 6 | Belief in one’s abilities or outcomes |
| Crush | Positive | 7 | Intense romantic infatuation |
| Coziness | Positive | 3 | Comfortable warmth and snug contentment |
| Caring | Positive | 6 | Showing concern and affection for others |
| Consolation | Positive | 4 | Comfort given after loss or disappointment |
| Cheer | Positive | 5 | A short burst of happiness or encouragement |
| Carefreeness | Positive | 4 | Freedom from worry or responsibility |
Descriptions
Calm
A low-arousal feeling of tranquility and absence of agitation. Example: “After the walk I felt calm and able to think clearly.”
Contentment
A mild, sustaining sense of satisfaction with current circumstances. Example: “Reading at home filled her with contentment.”
Contempt
A dismissive, negative feeling toward someone seen as inferior or unworthy. Example: “He looked at the critic with open contempt.”
Compassion
A warm concern and desire to help someone who is suffering. Example: “She felt compassion for the injured neighbor and offered help.”
Confusion
A unsettled state of not understanding something clearly. Example: “I felt confusion when the directions contradicted each other.”
Curiosity
An urge to explore, learn, or investigate novel information. Example: “His curiosity led him to study local plants.”
Cheerfulness
A bright, upbeat mood that makes interactions pleasant. Example: “Her cheerfulness lifted the team’s spirits.”
Chagrin
A sharp feeling of embarrassment or annoyance at a mistake. Example: “He felt chagrin when he forgot the appointment.”
Contrition
A sincere feeling of regret and desire to make amends. Example: “She expressed contrition after realizing the harm she’d caused.”
Compunction
A twinge of conscience prompting regret for a wrong action. Example: “He had compunction about taking credit for the idea.”
Complacency
A smug, untended satisfaction that reduces motivation to change. Example: “Complacency kept the team from improving their results.”
Comfort
A soothing state that reduces stress and provides reassurance. Example: “Holding her friend’s hand gave her comfort during the bad news.”
Composure
A steady emotional control that prevents visible upset. Example: “She maintained composure during the tense meeting.”
Concern
A focused worry or attentive care about someone or something. Example: “Parents felt concern when their child was late.”
Confidence
A feeling of assurance about oneself or a situation. Example: “He walked into the interview with confidence.”
Crush
A strong, often brief romantic attraction toward someone. Example: “She had a crush on her classmate all semester.”
Coziness
A warm, sheltered feeling of physical and emotional comfort. Example: “The fire and blanket created a lovely coziness.”
Caring
An engaged feeling of concern and willingness to help someone. Example: “Her caring showed when she checked on her neighbor.”
Consolation
A feeling of solace or relief provided after distress. Example: “Receiving kind words offered consolation after the loss.”
Cheer
A lively, encouraging happiness expressed in mood or speech. Example: “The crowd’s cheer boosted the players’ energy.”
Carefreeness
A light, untroubled state without anxiety about outcomes. Example: “On vacation she enjoyed a rare carefreeness.”