Words for Emotions 🔒

Some of the most important words in professional life are the ones that describe how people feel.

This group covers ennui, malaise, equanimity, felicity, and pathos, five words for emotional conditions ranging from detachment and unease to calm contentment and the ability to move others. They come up in management conversations, writing, and any honest discussion about human motivation.

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What's in this quiz

Definitions

ennui
malaise
equanimity
felicity
pathos

Show answers

ennui: a feeling of listlessness and boredom caused by a lack of purpose or stimulation
malaise: a general feeling of discomfort, unease, or low morale without a clear single cause
equanimity: calm and composure, especially when facing difficulty or pressure
felicity: a state of happiness, or the skill of finding exactly the right word or expression
pathos: a quality in something that evokes a feeling of sadness, sympathy, or shared humanity

Simple Synonyms

ennui
malaise
equanimity
felicity
pathos

Show answers

ennui: boredom, restlessness
malaise: unease, dissatisfaction
equanimity: composure, steadiness
felicity: happiness, aptness
pathos: emotional appeal, poignancy

Sentences

A wave of _____ had settled over the team after months of repetitive tasks with no clear goal in sight.
The annual survey revealed a widespread _____ across the organization that no one had been willing to name out loud.
She handled the unexpected setback with such _____ that her calm visibly steadied the rest of the team around her.
His _____ with language meant he could always find the perfect phrase to close a tense or difficult negotiation.
The retiring director's final speech had a quiet _____ that left even the most composed people in the room visibly moved.

Show answers

A wave of _____ had settled over the team after months of repetitive tasks with no clear goal in sight.: ennui
The annual survey revealed a widespread _____ across the organization that no one had been willing to name out loud.: malaise
She handled the unexpected setback with such _____ that her calm visibly steadied the rest of the team around her.: equanimity
His _____ with language meant he could always find the perfect phrase to close a tense or difficult negotiation.: felicity
The retiring director's final speech had a quiet _____ that left even the most composed people in the room visibly moved.: pathos