This list includes 18 Emotions that start with S, from “sadness” to “sympathy”. They cover common moods, social feelings, and nuanced states useful for writing, teaching, or therapy.
Emotions that start with S are feelings whose English names begin with the letter S. Many are universal, like “sadness” and “surprise”, while others reflect culture-specific concepts or subtle shades of meaning.
Below you’ll find the table with Emotion, Type, Definition, and Example.
Emotion: The specific feeling name you can scan for; use it to find precise entries quickly.
Type: Labels whether the emotion is Positive, Negative, or Neutral, helping you select tones for writing or therapy.
Definition: A brief one-sentence meaning that clarifies how the emotion feels or functions in daily life.
Example: A short sentence showing the emotion used in context, so you can apply it immediately.
Emotions that start with S
| Emotion | Part of speech | Valence | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| sadness | noun | Negative | She felt a deep sadness after hearing the bad news. |
| sorrow | noun | Negative | He expressed sorrow over his friend’s death. |
| shame | noun | Negative | She felt intense shame after her public mistake. |
| surprise | noun | Neutral | Their surprise at the news was obvious. |
| shock | noun | Negative | He was in shock after seeing the accident. |
| serenity | noun | Positive | She enjoyed a moment of serenity by the lake. |
| satisfaction | noun | Positive | I felt satisfaction when I finished the project. |
| schadenfreude | noun | Negative | He felt schadenfreude when his rival failed. |
| self-pity | noun | Negative | After the breakup, she sank into self-pity. |
| self-loathing | noun | Negative | He struggled with intense self-loathing after the mistake. |
| scorn | noun | Negative | He showed scorn toward the critic’s review. |
| sympathy | noun | Positive | I felt sympathy for her difficult situation. |
| sentimentality | noun | Neutral | The film’s sentimentality made some viewers tear up. |
| solace | noun | Positive | He found solace in cooking after the loss. |
| spite | noun | Negative | She acted out of spite, refusing to help. |
| stupefaction | noun | Neutral | The news left everyone in stupefaction. |
| suspense | noun | Neutral | The movie built suspense before the reveal. |
| smugness | noun | Negative | His smugness annoyed everyone at the meeting. |
Descriptions
sadness
A low-to-moderate negative feeling from loss or disappointment; can be brief or prolonged and is universally recognized.
sorrow
A deep, often long-lasting form of sadness linked to grief and loss; more intense and reflective than everyday sadness.
shame
A painful self-conscious emotion from believing one violated social or moral norms; often motivates hiding or repairing actions.
surprise
A brief, attention-grabbing reaction to unexpected events; valence depends on context, ranging from pleasant to alarming.
shock
An intense, sudden reaction to traumatic or startling events; can temporarily impair thinking and is usually short-lived.
serenity
A calm, peaceful positive state often linked to relief or acceptance; typically low-arousal and restorative.
satisfaction
A pleasant feeling of fulfillment when needs or goals are met; intensity ranges from mild contentment to strong pride.
schadenfreude
Pleasure at another’s misfortune; common but morally ambivalent and often socially frowned upon.
self-pity
A focused sense of sorrow and victimhood about one’s troubles; can prolong distress and reduce motivation.
self-loathing
Extreme, persistent dislike or hatred of oneself; high intensity and often linked to mental-health concerns.
scorn
A strong contempt or disrespect toward someone seen as inferior; often expressed through derision or dismissal.
sympathy
Concern and care for another’s suffering, often motivating support; culturally valued as a prosocial emotion.
sentimentality
A tender, nostalgic emotional response to memories or simple pleasures; can feel warm or overly sentimental.
solace
Comfort or relief during distress; often comes from others, activities, or meaningful thoughts and eases pain.
spite
A hostile feeling that motivates petty or harmful behavior to hurt someone, often born of resentment.
stupefaction
A stunned, bewildered reaction to shocking information; low agency and often brief, marked by disbelief.
suspense
Tense anticipation about an uncertain outcome; can be thrilling or anxiety-provoking depending on context.
smugness
Self-satisfied pride that looks down on others; socially off-putting and low in empathy.