Emotions & Reactions — B2 Essential Words
Ten essential B2 words (Feelings) with the complete apparatus: pronunciation, simple definitions, natural American examples, collocations, family, the common mistake and spoken usage — plus a 15-question practice quiz. Mark your status on every word.
impressed /ɪmˈprest/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: Feeling admiration and respect because something is good, skilled, or special.
Example: The judges were impressed by her singing.
Another example: I'm impressed with your progress.
Collocations: impressed by · impressed with · very impressed
Synonyms: amazed (stronger), pleased, inspired
Antonyms: unimpressed, disappointed
Word family: impress (v) · impressive (adj — the thing) · impression (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Impressed (me) vs impressive (the thing) — the eternal -ed/-ing family. 'First impressions' are the meeting kind.
🗣 In spoken American English: Interviews exist to produce this feeling in 30 minutes.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
dissatisfied /dɪsˈsætɪsfaɪd/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: Not pleased or content because something is not as good as you expected or wanted.
Example: Customers were dissatisfied with the slow service.
Another example: She felt dissatisfied with her results.
Collocations: dissatisfied with · dissatisfied customers · deeply dissatisfied
Synonyms: unhappy, displeased, disappointed (event-based)
Antonyms: satisfied, content, pleased
Word family: dissatisfaction (n) · satisfy (v) · satisfied (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Dissatisfied judges QUALITY (service, results) over time; disappointed reacts to a specific EVENT falling short.
🗣 In spoken American English: Surveys measure it in stars — companies fear the one-star reviews it writes.
Register: Formal — feelings and business.
desperate /ˈdespərət/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: Feeling that a situation is so bad you will do anything to change it; also (of an action) done from this feeling.
Example: He was desperate for work after losing his job.
Another example: In a desperate attempt, they called for help.
Collocations: desperate for · desperate to · a desperate attempt
Synonyms: hopeless, frantic, urgent
Antonyms: calm, content, secure
Word family: desperately (adv) · desperation (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Desperate measures are the extreme ones taken in such states. 'Desperate for' can soften to strong wanting in ads, but its true weight is heavy.
🗣 In spoken American English: Headlines reserve it for real crises — droughts, sieges, last chances.
Register: Neutral — strong feelings essential.
insulted /ɪnˈsʌltɪd/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: Offended and hurt because someone said or did something rude to you.
Example: She felt insulted by his joke.
Another example: He was insulted by the low offer.
Collocations: insulted by · feel insulted · deeply insulted
Synonyms: offended, humiliated, slighted
Antonyms: flattered, honored
Word family: insult (n/v) · insulting (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: An INSULT is the rude act (noun stress IN-sult; verb in-SULT). Feeling insulted needs an offender — jokes cause it accidentally daily.
🗣 In spoken American English: Diplomacy exists to prevent nations from feeling it.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
relief /rɪˈliːf/ noun B2 Feelings
Meaning: The relaxed, happy feeling when pain, worry, or danger ends; also help given to people in trouble.
Example: It was a relief to hear everyone was safe.
Another example: Aid workers brought relief to the flooded towns.
Collocations: a relief · a sense of relief · relief efforts
Synonyms: comfort, release, aid
Antonyms: anxiety, burden
Word family: relieve (v) · relieved (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Relief (the noun) pairs with relieved (the feeling adjective): 'What a relief — I'm so relieved.' Aid agencies file the second meaning.
🗣 In spoken American English: Exam results and hospital phone calls deliver it most memorably.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
offended /əˈfendɪd/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: Upset or hurt because someone said or did something rude or disrespectful.
Example: He was offended by the cartoon.
Another example: Please don't be offended — I meant it kindly.
Collocations: offended by · be offended · easily offended
Synonyms: insulted, hurt, upset
Antonyms: pleased, flattered
Word family: offend (v) · offense (n) · offensive (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Offended reacts to rudeness; taking offense is the act. 'No offense' pre-apologizes before risky honesty.
🗣 In spoken American English: Comedy walks its border nightly.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
moved /muːvd/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: Feeling strong, warm emotions — sadness or happiness — because of something touching.
Example: The audience was moved by her story.
Another example: He was deeply moved by the letter.
Collocations: moved by · deeply moved · moved to tears
Synonyms: touched, affected, stirred
Antonyms: unmoved, indifferent
Word family: move (v) · moving (adj — the thing) · movement (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Moved (feeling) vs moving (the touching thing): 'The film was moving; we were moved.' Also the house-changing verb — context rules.
🗣 In spoken American English: Wedding speeches aim for it; onions achieve it cheaply.
Register: Neutral — warm feelings.
stunned /stʌnd/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: So shocked or surprised that you cannot react or think normally for a moment.
Example: The news of the victory stunned everyone.
Another example: She stood stunned at the door.
Collocations: stunned by · stunned silence · left stunned
Synonyms: shocked, amazed, speechless
Antonyms: prepared, expecting
Word family: stun (v) · stunning (adj — amazing/beautiful)
⚠ Common mistake: Stunned is shock with the brakes on — silence follows it. 'Stunning' about views and dresses means breathtaking, a compliment.
🗣 In spoken American English: Award winners' faces in the first second define it.
Register: Neutral — strong reactions.
uneasy /ʌnˈiːzi/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: Slightly worried or uncomfortable about a situation; not relaxed.
Example: She felt uneasy walking home alone.
Another example: An uneasy silence filled the room.
Collocations: feel uneasy · uneasy about · an uneasy feeling
Synonyms: anxious, uncomfortable, restless
Antonyms: calm, relaxed, comfortable
Word family: uneasily (adv) · unease (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Uneasy is worry at LOW volume — something feels wrong before you know what. Rooms and silences share the adjective.
🗣 In spoken American English: The feeling that makes people double-check locked doors.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
restless /ˈrestləs/ adjective B2 Feelings
Meaning: Unable to relax or stay still because of boredom, worry, or a wish for change.
Example: The children grew restless on the long drive.
Another example: He spent a restless night before the exam.
Collocations: feel restless · a restless night · restless energy
Synonyms: fidgety, uneasy, impatient
Antonyms: calm, settled, restful
Word family: restlessly (adv) · restlessness (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Restless is rest MINUS rest: the -less flips it. Travelers get 'restless feet' — the urge to move on.
🗣 In spoken American English: Every long meeting manufactures it by minute forty.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
Practice — Emotions & Reactions
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