Discover the complete list of 63 emotions that start with the letter H, covering a diverse range of feelings from “Haggard” to “Hysterical.” These emotions reflect the wide spectrum of human experience, including states of joy, distress, hope, and hostility. Many of the emotions have roots in everyday situations, showing how varied and rich our emotional lives can be even within one letter of the alphabet.
Explore this detailed table to understand each emotion clearly, from its type to its impact, giving you a useful tool to recognize and name your feelings precisely.
Emotions This column lists the name of each emotion, providing the specific feeling or emotional state that starts with H.
Type This column categorizes each emotion as an emotional state, emotion, emotional quality, or temperament. It helps you understand whether the feeling is temporary, more stable, or describes a trait.
Definition Here you find a clear and simple explanation of what each emotion means, helping you grasp the core meaning quickly and accurately.
Example Usage This section gives a short sentence showing how the emotion can be used in everyday language. It helps make the meaning more relatable and easier to understand.
Descripción This column offers a deeper explanation or nuance of the emotion, often describing its causes, effects, or feelings it carries. It expands your understanding beyond the basic definition.
Emotions that start with H
| Emotions | Type | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haggard | Emotional State | Looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering. | After weeks of sleepless nights, she looked haggard and drawn. |
| Happy | Emotional State | Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. | He felt incredibly happy after receiving the good news. |
| Happiness | Emotion | The state of being happy. | True happiness comes from within. |
| Harassed | Emotional State | Feeling tormented or troubled, especially repeatedly. | She felt harassed by the constant demands on her time. |
| Hardened | Emotional State | Made tough or emotionally resilient by experience; desensitized. | Years of hardship had left him hardened and less empathetic. |
| Harmonious | Emotional State | Characterized by agreement or concord; feeling pleasant due to congruence. | The family shared a harmonious evening filled with laughter. |
| Harrowed | Emotional State | Distressed greatly; tormented. | The news of the tragedy left her utterly harrowed. |
| Harried | Emotional State | Feeling stressed, rushed, and overworked. | The harried waitress struggled to keep up with orders. |
| Hassled | Emotional State | Annoyed or bothered by repeated demands or difficulties. | He felt completely hassled by the endless bureaucratic procedures. |
| Hate | Emotion | Intense dislike or hostility. | He felt a surge of hate for the injustice. |
| Hatred | Emotion | Intense dislike or ill will. | The deep-seated hatred between the factions was palpable. |
| Haughty | Emotional State | Arrogantly superior and disdainful. | Her haughty demeanor made her difficult to approach. |
| Haunted | Emotional State | Preoccupied with or troubled by something. | He was haunted by memories of the accident. |
| Heartache | Emotion | Emotional anguish or grief. | The separation caused her immense heartache. |
| Heartbreak | Emotion | Overwhelming distress, typically caused by the loss of a loved one or a major disappointment. | The news of the betrayal caused him utter heartbreak. |
| Heartbroken | Emotional State | Overwhelmed with sorrow, grief, or disappointment. | She was heartbroken after her pet passed away. |
| Heartened | Emotional State | Encouraged and made more cheerful. | She felt heartened by the support from her friends. |
| Heartfelt | Emotional Quality | Deeply and sincerely felt. | He offered a heartfelt apology. |
| Heartsick | Emotional State | Despondent or depressed. | She was heartsick over the state of the world. |
| Heartwarmed | Emotional State | Deeply moved by feelings of affection, gratitude, or pleasure. | Their kindness left her feeling completely heartwarmed. |
| Heavy | Emotional State | Emotionally burdened or depressed. | His heart felt heavy with sorrow. |
| Heavyhearted | Emotional State | Despondent or sad. | She felt heavyhearted after the farewell. |
| Heebie-jeebies | Emotional State (Informal) | A feeling of nervousness, apprehension, or discomfort. | That eerie old house always gives me the heebie-jeebies. |
| Hellish | Emotional Descriptor | Extremely unpleasant or dreadful. | The situation turned into a hellish nightmare. |
| Helpless | Emotional State | Unable to help oneself; powerless or incompetent. | She felt utterly helpless in the face of the disaster. |
| Helplessness | Emotion | The state of being helpless. | Her helplessness in the situation was heartbreaking to witness. |
| Heroic | Emotional Quality | Showing great bravery; admirable. | His heroic actions saved many lives. |
| Hesitant | Emotional State | Tentative, unsure, or slow in acting or speaking. | He was hesitant to express his true feelings. |
| Hesitation | Emotion | The action of pausing or hesitating. | There was a moment of hesitation before he agreed. |
| High | Emotional State (Informal) | In a state of euphoria, often due to drugs or excitement. | He was feeling high on life after his promotion. |
| High-spirited | Emotional State | Lively and cheerful. | Her high-spirited nature was contagious. |
| Hilarity | Emotion | Extreme amusement, especially as expressed by laughter. | The comedian’s jokes provoked uproarious hilarity. |
| Hoity-toity | Emotional State (Informal, Derogatory) | Haughty or disdainful. | She had a rather hoity-toity attitude about common things. |
| Hollow | Emotional State | Without real value; empty or meaningless. | He felt a hollow ache in his chest after the news. |
| Holy | Emotional State | Morally and spiritually excellent; revered. | She felt a holy reverence in the ancient temple. |
| Homesick | Emotional State | Longing for one’s home during a period of absence. | She grew terribly homesick during her first year away at college. |
| Homesickness | Emotion | The state of being homesick. | A wave of homesickness washed over him as he saw the old photos. |
| Honored | Emotional State | Feeling privileged to be esteemed or given respect. | She felt deeply honored to receive the award. |
| Hope | Emotion | A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. | She held onto a sliver of hope. |
| Hopeful | Emotional State | Feeling or inspiring optimism about a future event. | He remained hopeful despite the setbacks. |
| Hopefulness | Emotion | The feeling or state of being hopeful. | Her natural hopefulness helped her through tough times. |
| Hopeless | Emotional State | Feeling or causing despair about something. | He felt completely hopeless after the diagnosis. |
| Hopelessness | Emotion | The state of being hopeless. | A cloud of hopelessness settled over the group. |
| Horrified | Emotional State | Feeling shock, disgust, or fear. | She was horrified by the gruesome scene. |
| Horror | Emotion | An intense feeling of fear, shock, and disgust. | The true horror of the situation became clear. |
| Hostile | Emotional State | Unfriendly and antagonistic. | His hostile glare intimidated everyone. |
| Hostility | Emotion | Hostile behavior; unfriendliness or opposition. | There was open hostility between the rivals. |
| Hot | Emotional State (Informal) | Feeling intense anger or passion. | He was hot with indignation. |
| Hot-headed | Emotional Temperament | Impetuous or quick to anger. | His hot-headed decisions often led to trouble. |
| Huffy | Emotional State (Informal) | Annoyed or offended; easily offended. | She got huffy when criticized. |
| Humbled | Emotional State | Having a feeling of modest respect. | He felt humbled by the overwhelming support. |
| Humiliated | Emotional State | Feeling ashamed and foolish, especially publicly. | She felt completely humiliated after her mistake. |
| Humiliation | Emotion | The state of being humiliated. | The public reprimand caused him great humiliation. |
| Humility | Emotional State | The quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance. | He approached the task with humility. |
| Hung-up | Emotional State (Informal) | Having an obsessive emotional problem or inhibition. | He’s still hung-up on his past mistakes. |
| Hurried | Emotional State | Feeling rushed or acting with excessive speed. | She felt hurried and stressed by the deadline. |
| Hurt | Emotional State | Feeling emotional pain or distress. | His words deeply hurt her. |
| Hyper | Emotional State (Informal) | Extremely active or excited. | The children were hyper after the sugar rush. |
| Hyper-aroused | Emotional State | Experiencing an exaggerated physiological and psychological response to stimuli. | The trauma left her hyper-aroused and easily startled. |
| Hypersensitive | Emotional Tendency | Abnormally or excessively sensitive. | She was hypersensitive to criticism. |
| Hypnotized | Emotional State | Holding someone’s attention completely as if by magic. | He was hypnotized by her captivating story. |
| Hysteria | Emotion | Exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement. | The news caused widespread hysteria. |
| Hysterical | Emotional State | Characterized by or feeling hysteria. | She became hysterical with laughter. |
Descriptions
Haggard
Often reflecting deep emotional strain or physical exhaustion, haggard describes a worn appearance that hints at inner turmoil or suffering, conveying a sense of depletion.
Happy
A core positive emotion, happiness involves feelings of joy, pleasure, and contentment, often accompanied by a sense of well-being and optimism about life.
Happiness
As a state of being, happiness is a profound sense of joy and contentment, reflecting positive emotional experiences and a general satisfaction with one’s circumstances.
Harassed
This emotion arises from persistent annoyance, pressure, or attack, leading to feelings of stress, agitation, and being overwhelmed by continuous demands or unpleasant interactions.
Hardened
Describes an emotional state where one becomes emotionally tough, resilient, or even insensitive due to past experiences, often shielding from vulnerability or pain.
Harmonious
Though more of a state than an emotion, harmonious refers to a pleasant feeling of accord, balance, and unity, often experienced in relationships or peaceful environments, fostering calm and contentment.
Harrowed
To be harrowed means to feel intensely distressed, tormented, or traumatized, often by a deeply disturbing experience that leaves a profound emotional impact.
Harried
Describes a state of feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and rushed, often due to excessive demands or pressure, leading to a sense of frantic urgency and anxiety.
Hassled
Similar to harassed, hassled implies being bothered, annoyed, or subjected to difficulties and demands, causing frustration and a sense of being unfairly burdened.
Hate
A powerful and often destructive emotion, hate is an intense and passionate dislike, aversion, or hostility towards someone or something, often accompanied by anger and a desire to harm.
Hatred
The noun form of hate, hatred signifies a profound and enduring emotion of extreme animosity, ill will, and antagonism towards another, often rooted in past grievances.
Haughty
Haughty describes an emotional display of arrogance and disdain, where an individual feels superior to others, often looking down on them with pride and contempt.
Haunted
This feeling implies being persistently troubled, preoccupied, or even obsessed by past events, memories, or fears, leaving a lingering, uneasy emotional presence.
Heartache
Heartache is a deep, painful emotional distress, typically caused by grief, loss, or unfulfilled longing, felt profoundly as if the heart itself is aching.
Heartbreak
An intense form of emotional pain and grief, heartbreak is typically associated with the profound loss of a relationship or a significant disappointment that shatters one’s hopes.
Heartbroken
Describes the profound emotional state of being overwhelmed by immense sorrow, grief, or disappointment, often stemming from loss or shattered expectations, leaving one feeling devastated.
Heartened
To be heartened means to feel encouraged, uplifted, or made more hopeful and cheerful, often by positive news or supportive gestures, boosting one’s spirits.
Heartfelt
Describes an emotion or sentiment that is genuinely and deeply felt, expressing sincerity and coming from the core of one’s being, conveying profound authenticity.
Heartsick
Heartsick describes a state of deep despondency, sorrow, or profound melancholy, often caused by longing, grief, or overwhelming disappointment, feeling a heaviness in one’s spirit.
Heartwarmed
A pleasant and comforting emotion, heartwarmed implies feeling deeply touched, comforted, or moved by acts of kindness, affection, or gratitude, bringing warmth to one’s soul.
Heavy
When describing emotion, heavy signifies a sense of emotional burden, sadness, or depression, often accompanied by a feeling of weariness or profound grief that weighs one down.
Heavyhearted
Similar to heavy, heavyhearted specifically conveys a deep sense of sadness, despondency, or grief, where one’s spirit feels burdened and weighed down by sorrow.
Heebie-jeebies
An informal term for a feeling of nervous apprehension, discomfort, or unease, often accompanied by a slight chill or shiver, typically triggered by something spooky or unsettling.
Hellish
While literally describing something like hell, when used emotionally, hellish conveys a feeling of extreme unpleasantness, dread, or suffering, implying a tormenting or horrific experience.
Helpless
The emotion of helplessness arises from a profound lack of control or ability to act, leading to feelings of powerlessness, vulnerability, and often despair in a difficult situation.
Helplessness
This noun refers to the emotional state of being without help or protection, characterized by a feeling of powerlessness, vulnerability, and an inability to influence or change one’s circumstances.
Heroic
Heroic describes an emotional state or action characterized by immense courage, selflessness, and bravery, often in the face of danger, inspiring admiration and awe in others.
Hesitant
Describes an emotional state of uncertainty or reluctance, where one feels unsure or slow to act, often due to doubt, fear, or indecision about a course of action.
Hesitation
The emotional state of pausing due to uncertainty or reluctance, hesitation reflects doubt, indecision, or a lack of confidence before making a decision or taking action.
High
Informally, “high” refers to a state of elevated mood, euphoria, or intense excitement, often associated with a sense of elation, energy, and heightened pleasure.
High-spirited
Describes an emotion characterized by vivacity, cheerfulness, and a lively, energetic disposition, often accompanied by optimism and a zest for life, inspiring enthusiasm.
Hilarity
Hilarity is the state of extreme amusement and merriment, typically evidenced by loud and sustained laughter, creating an atmosphere of joy and lightheartedness.
Hoity-toity
An informal and often derogatory term, hoity-toity describes an emotion of affected snobbery or exaggerated importance, implying a pretentious or condescending attitude.
Hollow
When describing emotion, hollow conveys a sense of emptiness, void, or lack of substance, often accompanying grief, disappointment, or a feeling of detachment and unfulfillment.
Holy
While often religious, “holy” can describe an emotion of profound reverence, awe, or spiritual purity, feeling deeply connected to something sacred or morally elevated.
Homesick
Homesick is a poignant emotion of longing and sadness experienced when away from home, characterized by a yearning for familiar comfort, people, and surroundings.
Homesickness
The noun form, homesickness, denotes the emotional distress and yearning for one’s home and family while being in a distant place, often accompanied by nostalgia and sadness.
Honored
To feel honored means to experience a profound sense of pride and privilege, often from being respected, recognized, or given a special distinction, fostering a feeling of worth.
Hope
Hope is a powerful emotion characterized by a positive expectation and desire for a favorable outcome, providing resilience and motivating forward movement even in difficult times.
Hopeful
Describes the emotional state of being optimistic or confident about a positive outcome, embodying a sense of possibility and looking forward with anticipation.
Hopefulness
Hopefulness is the emotional quality or state of possessing hope, characterized by optimism, positive expectation, and a belief in favorable future possibilities, inspiring resilience.
Hopeless
The emotion of being without hope, hopeless describes a profound sense of despair, futility, and resignation, often leading to a feeling that nothing can be done to improve a situation.
Hopelessness
Hopelessness refers to the emotional state of utter despair, resignation, and the complete absence of hope, often paralyzing action and indicating a belief in inevitable failure.
Horrified
To be horrified means to feel an intense shock, disgust, or fear, often triggered by something extremely unpleasant, immoral, or frightening, causing profound distress.
Horror
Horror is a powerful, overwhelming emotion combining intense fear, shock, and often disgust, typically in response to something profoundly disturbing, gruesome, or terrifying.
Hostile
Hostile describes an emotion characterized by unfriendliness, antagonism, or opposition, often manifesting as anger, aggression, or a desire to harm, signaling an unwelcoming demeanor.
Hostility
Hostility is the emotional state of deep-seated unfriendliness, antagonism, or opposition, often leading to aggressive or defiant behavior and a desire for conflict.
Hot
Informally, “hot” can refer to an intense emotional state, particularly of anger, fury, or intense passion, indicating a volatile or highly charged feeling.
Hot-headed
Describes an emotional temperament that is prone to quick anger, impulsiveness, and acting without thinking, characterized by a fiery and volatile disposition.
Huffy
An informal term for feeling annoyed, offended, or easily angered, often in a petulant or sulky manner, conveying a sensitive and irritable disposition.
Humbled
To be humbled means to feel a sense of modest respect, often caused by recognizing one’s own limitations or shortcomings, or by an experience that reduces pride and fosters gratitude.
Humiliated
To be humiliated is to experience deep shame and disgrace, often publicly, feeling foolish and losing self-respect due to a perceived loss of dignity or status.
Humiliation
Humiliation is the profound emotional experience of feeling disgraced, shamed, or ridiculed, leading to a loss of dignity and self-respect, often inflicted by others.
Humility
While a character trait, humility can also be an emotional state characterized by a modest, unpretentious view of oneself, often accompanied by a sense of gratitude rather than pride.
Hung-up
Informally, “hung-up” describes being emotionally fixated or inhibited, often due to unresolved issues or insecurities, leading to a persistent preoccupation or difficulty moving on.
Hurried
Emotionally, to feel hurried means to be rushed, pressured, or to act with excessive speed, often leading to anxiety, stress, and a lack of carefulness.
Hurt
Hurt describes the emotional pain or distress caused by unkindness, betrayal, or injury, leading to feelings of sadness, woundedness, or resentment.
Hyper
Informally, “hyper” describes a state of extreme energy, excitement, or overstimulation, often leading to restlessness, impulsiveness, and an inability to calm down.
Hyper-aroused
This emotion refers to a state of heightened physiological and psychological arousal, where the body and mind are overly reactive to stimuli, often due to stress or trauma, leading to extreme vigilance or anxiety.
Hypersensitive
Describes an emotional tendency to be overly reactive or sensitive to external stimuli, criticisms, or emotional cues, often leading to easily hurt feelings or exaggerated responses.
Hypnotized
Emotionally, to be hypnotized means to be utterly captivated, engrossed, or mesmerized, as if in a trance, with one’s attention completely absorbed by something or someone.
Hysteria
Hysteria is an emotional state of exaggerated or uncontrollable excitement, fear, or other strong emotion, often manifesting as panic, irrational behavior, or emotional outbursts.
Hysterical
Describes an emotional state characterized by wild, uncontrollable emotion, often manifesting as extreme fear, panic, or exaggerated laughter, signifying a loss of emotional control.