With 27 emotions that start with the letter “P,” this complete list covers a wide range of human feelings, from intense fear like panic to thoughtful confusion such as puzzlement. Many of these emotions reflect subtle differences in mood and mental states, showing how rich and varied our emotional world really is. The emotions included are widely recognized and offer clear insights into how we experience both positive and negative feelings.
Explore the table below to discover each emotion in detail.
Type This column identifies the general category or nature of each emotion, such as fear, joy, or irritability. Understanding the type helps you quickly grasp the emotional tone.
Definition Here, you find a simple and clear explanation of what each emotion means. These definitions make it easy to understand the core feeling behind each word.
Example Usage This section shows how the emotion might appear in everyday life with a short sentence. Examples make the emotion more relatable and easier to recognize.
Descripción This provides a deeper description that explains the emotion’s characteristics and effects, giving you a fuller picture of how it feels and behaves in real situations.
Emotions that start with P
| Emotions | Type | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panic | Intense Fear | A sudden, overwhelming feeling of fear or anxiety, often causing irrational behavior. | A sudden loud noise caused immediate panic among the audience members. |
| Panickiness | State of Anxiety | A state or tendency to feel easily panicked or anxious. | His general panickiness made him avoid large crowds and unexpected situations. |
| Paranoia | Distrustful Emotion | A mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance. | His paranoia led him to believe everyone was secretly plotting against him. |
| Passion | Strong Positive Emotion | An intense, compelling, or powerful emotion or feeling, often related to love, enthusiasm, or desire. | Her passion for helping others drove her to volunteer tirelessly. |
| Peace | State of Calm | A state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from disturbance. | After a long day, she found peace in the quiet of her garden. |
| Peacefulness | Calm Emotion | The state of being calm, tranquil, and free from disturbance. | The soft music contributed to the peacefulness of the room. |
| Peeve | Minor Annoyance | Something that annoys a person; a pet peeve. | Loud chewers are a major peeve of mine. |
| Peevishness | Irritability | The quality of being easily annoyed or irritable, especially over unimportant things. | His peevishness increased with every delay, making him difficult to be around. |
| Penitence | Regretful Emotion | The action of feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentance. | He showed deep penitence for his past mistakes and sought to make amends. |
| Pensiveness | Reflective Emotion | The state of being engaged in deep or serious thought. | A thoughtful pensiveness settled over her as she gazed out at the stars. |
| Perplexity | Confused Emotion | The state of being confused, bewildered, or puzzled. | She stared at the complex equation with growing perplexity. |
| Pessimism | Negative Outlook | A tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen; a lack of hope or confidence in the future. | His constant pessimism made it difficult to find solutions to problems. |
| Petrification | Extreme Fear | The process of turning to stone; emotionally, a state of being extremely shocked or terrified, to the point of immobility. | The sudden loud bang caused her petrification, leaving her unable to move. |
| Petulance | Childish Annoyance | The quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered. | His petulance after losing the game was unbecoming of an adult. |
| Phobia | Irrational Fear | An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. | Her phobia of heights prevented her from climbing the tower. |
| Pique | Annoyance/Irritation | A feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one’s pride. | His comments wounded her pride and filled her with a sense of pique. |
| Pity | Compassionate Emotion | The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others. | She felt a pang of pity for the homeless dog shivering in the rain. |
| Placidity | Calmness | The quality of being calm and peaceful; not easily upset or excited. | The placidity of the lake mirrored the calm feeling in her heart. |
| Playfulness | Joyful Emotion | The quality of being lighthearted, humorous, and full of fun; fond of games and amusement. | The puppy’s playfulness was contagious, making everyone smile. |
| Pleasure | Positive Sensation | A feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment. | Reading a good book brings her immense pleasure. |
| Poignancy | Deep Emotion | The quality of evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret, often mixed with tender emotion. | The old photograph had a special poignancy, reminding her of lost loved ones. |
| Possessiveness | Protective Emotion | The state of being unwilling to allow someone to have or use something, or to have relationships with others, due to a strong sense of ownership. | His possessiveness over his belongings made it hard for him to share. |
| Powerlessness | Helpless Emotion | The state of being unable to do anything; helplessness. | He felt a profound sense of powerlessness watching the floodwaters rise. |
| Pride | Positive Self-Emotion | A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that one admires. | She swelled with pride as her daughter graduated at the top of her class. |
| Prickliness | Irritability/Sensitivity | The quality of being easily irritated or offended; touchiness. | Her sudden prickliness suggested she was tired and stressed. |
| Prostration | Extreme Despair/Exhaustion | The act of lying stretched out on the ground; (of a person) extreme physical weakness or emotional exhaustion. | After hearing the tragic news, she collapsed in a state of utter prostration. |
| Puzzlement | Confused Emotion | The state of being confused because something is difficult to understand. | His expression showed clear puzzlement as he tried to solve the riddle. |
Descriptions
Panic
Panic is an acute and overwhelming emotion of fear, often accompanied by physiological symptoms like a racing heart. It can lead to a temporary loss of rational thought, acting as a powerful, sometimes debilitating, emotional response to perceived danger or stress.
Panickiness
Panickiness refers to a pervasive state of anxiety or a predisposition to easily experience panic. It’s a persistent emotional trait where one frequently feels on edge, making daily life challenging and leading to an ongoing sense of unease.
Paranoia
Paranoia is an emotion rooted in deep distrust and suspicion, often involving feelings of persecution. It causes individuals to believe others are out to harm them, even without evidence. This complex emotional state can significantly impact relationships and perception.
Passion
Passion is a profound and often positive emotion, characterized by intense enthusiasm, desire, or devotion. It fuels our greatest pursuits, whether in love, hobbies, or careers, providing a powerful inner drive that enriches life experiences.
Peace
Peace, as an emotion, embodies a profound sense of inner calm, tranquility, and freedom from mental disturbance. It’s a highly sought-after feeling of serenity and contentment, allowing for a harmonious existence without conflict or anxiety.
Peacefulness
Peacefulness is the feeling or quality of being calm and untroubled. It’s an emotional state marked by a lack of agitation or distress, fostering a sense of inner quiet and relaxation. This gentle emotion promotes well-being and a serene outlook.
Peeve
A peeve is a minor annoyance or a particular thing that irritates someone. It’s not a deep emotion but a small, recurring irritation that can provoke mild exasperation. Everyone has their own pet peeves that might trigger a slight negative emotional response.
Peevishness
Peevishness describes a state of being easily irritated, especially by trivial matters. It’s an emotion akin to crankiness or ill temper, leading one to be grumpy or fretful. This minor but persistent negative mood can affect interactions.
Penitence
Penitence is a profound emotion of deep regret and sorrow for one’s wrongdoings. It involves a sincere desire to make amends and change one’s behavior. This feeling is crucial for personal growth and moral reflection, often leading to acts of apology.
Pensiveness
Pensiveness is an emotion characterized by deep and serious contemplation, often accompanied by a quiet, reflective mood. It’s a state where one is lost in thought, pondering life’s complexities or personal experiences, fostering introspection and contemplation.
Perplexity
Perplexity is an emotion of confusion and bewilderment, often arising when faced with something difficult to understand. It involves a feeling of being puzzled or unsure, prompting a desire to clarify or resolve the ambiguity at hand.
Pessimism
Pessimism is an emotional outlook characterized by a tendency to expect negative outcomes or to dwell on the worst aspects of situations. It’s a feeling of hopelessness or lack of confidence in the future, often influencing one’s perspective and actions.
Petrification
Petrification, as an emotion, describes an extreme state of fear or shock so intense that it renders one immobile, metaphorically “turning to stone.” It’s a primal, overwhelming emotional response where the body freezes due to terror or surprise.
Petulance
Petulance is an emotion characterized by childish sulkiness or bad temper, especially over trivial matters. It manifests as a display of ill-humor or impatience, often when one’s wishes are not met, reflecting an immature emotional response.
Phobia
A phobia is an intense and often irrational fear of a specific object or situation. It’s an overwhelming emotional response that goes beyond typical caution, causing significant distress and avoidance behavior, profoundly impacting daily life.
Pique
Pique is an emotion of irritation or resentment, typically triggered by a perceived slight or insult to one’s pride. It’s a sudden burst of annoyance, often leading to a desire to prove oneself or react defensively to the perceived offense.
Pity
Pity is a compassionate emotion, a feeling of sorrow and deep sympathy for the suffering or misfortune of others. It involves a recognition of another’s pain and a desire for their relief, connecting us through shared humanity.
Placidity
Placidity refers to a profound state of calmness, peacefulness, and serenity. It describes an emotion where one is not easily disturbed or excited, fostering a tranquil and undisturbed mental state, much like a calm body of water.
Playfulness
Playfulness is a joyful and lighthearted emotion characterized by a desire for fun, games, and amusement. It’s an expression of lightheartedness and joy, often seen in laughter, teasing, and spontaneous activities, fostering positive social connections and creativity.
Pleasure
Pleasure is a fundamental positive emotion, a feeling of happy satisfaction, enjoyment, or gratification. It ranges from simple sensory delights to profound contentment, driving us toward activities that bring joy and well-being.
Poignancy
Poignancy is an emotion that evokes a keen sense of sadness or regret, often mixed with a tender or nostalgic feeling. It’s a deep emotional resonance, touching the heart in a way that is both sorrowful and profoundly moving, like a bittersweet memory.
Possessiveness
Possessiveness is an emotion rooted in a strong desire to own or control someone or something. It often stems from a sense of insecurity or fear of loss, leading to jealousy or an unwillingness to share, impacting relationships and personal freedom.
Powerlessness
Powerlessness is a distressing emotion characterized by a feeling of helplessness or an inability to influence or control a situation. It can lead to despair and a sense of defeat, often arising when faced with overwhelming circumstances beyond one’s control.
Pride
Pride is a complex emotion, often positive, stemming from deep satisfaction in one’s own or others’ achievements or admirable qualities. It can motivate and instill confidence, but also has a negative connotation of arrogance when taken to an extreme.
Prickliness
Prickliness describes an emotional state of being easily annoyed, offended, or touchy. It’s a defensive emotional response where one might react sharply to minor provocations, indicating irritability or sensitivity to external stimuli.
Prostration
Prostration, as an emotion, refers to a state of extreme emotional exhaustion, despair, or helplessness, often leading to physical collapse or profound weakness. It’s an overwhelming feeling of being utterly defeated or drained, leaving one without energy or will.
Puzzlement
Puzzlement is an emotion of confusion or bewilderment arising when something is difficult to understand or explain. It involves a mental state of questioning and searching for clarity, often accompanied by a furrowed brow or thoughtful silence.