Emotional Expression Vocabulary

noun the art of performing or staging plays, movies, or other forms of entertainment

adjective relating to the performance of plays or movies

• The actor's performance was filled with unnecessary dramatics.
• She always adds a touch of dramatics to her stories.
• Stop with the dramatics, it's not that big of a deal.
• His reaction to the news was pure dramatics, as if the world was ending.

noun the rise and fall of the voice in speaking

adjective related to the manner in which intonation is used in speech

• His intonation during the presentation was clear and authoritative.
• I could tell by her intonation that she was not happy with the situation.
• The way he changed his intonation made it seem like he was being sarcastic.
• The intonation of the music rose and fell like waves crashing on the shore.

verb past tense of the verb 'mute', which means to make less intense or prominent

adjective having a subdued or softened tone or color

• The colors in the painting were muted, creating a sense of tranquility.
• She wore a muted outfit to the party last night.
• I'm feeling a bit muted today, not in the mood for socializing.
• His enthusiasm for the project was muted after receiving negative feedback.

adverb in a way that is visible or obvious to others; externally

• The CEO appeared outwardly calm during the press conference.
• She may seem outwardly confident, but deep down she is nervous.
• He acts all cool and collected outwardly, but he's really just putting on a show.
• His outwardly tough demeanor hides a sensitive soul underneath.

verb to act in an exaggerated or overly dramatic manner

• The actor was criticized for his tendency to overact in dramatic scenes.
• She always overacts when telling a story, making it more entertaining.
• Don't overact when you see your crush, just be yourself.
• His exaggerated gestures made it seem like he was overacting in real life.

noun the patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry or language

adjective relating to or characteristic of prosody

• The study of prosody in linguistics focuses on the patterns of rhythm and intonation in speech.
• I find it interesting how prosody can affect the overall meaning of a sentence.
• Dude, your prosody is way off when you're telling a joke.
• Her prosody was like a symphony, perfectly conveying the emotions of the poem.

adjective expressing disapproval or disappointment

• She shot him a reproachful look when he arrived late to the meeting.
• My mom gave me a reproachful glare when she saw the mess in my room.
• He gave me a reproachful side-eye when I accidentally spilled my drink on him.
• The old painting seemed to cast a reproachful gaze on anyone who dared to touch it.

noun a loud cry or call

verb to utter a loud cry or call

• The teacher reprimanded the student for shouting in the classroom.
• My mom is always shouting at me to clean my room.
• Why are you shouting at me? Chill out, dude.
• His artwork was shouting with vibrant colors and bold shapes.

verb to form one's features into a pleased, kind, or amused expression, typically with the corners of the mouth turned up and the front teeth exposed

• The professor entered the room, smiling warmly at his students.
• I saw my friend across the street, smiling and waving at me.
• She walked into the party, smiling like she owned the place.
• The sun set over the horizon, smiling down on the world below.

noun a humble request, prayer, or petition

• The monk knelt in supplication, praying for peace and enlightenment.
• She whispered a quick supplication before blowing out the birthday candles.
• I threw up a supplication to the universe, hoping for some good luck.
• His supplication for forgiveness fell on deaf ears as she refused to forgive him.

noun the character or quality of a sound or musical note that distinguishes it from other notes

adjective relating to tonality or having tonality

• The composer carefully considered the tonality of each piece before finalizing the score.
• I really like how the tonality of this song gives off a nostalgic vibe.
• The tonality of her voice was so soothing, it gave me chills.
• The tonality of the painting conveyed a sense of melancholy and longing.

adjective not inclined to talk or impart information

adverb in a manner not inclined to talk or impart information

• The new employee was often described as uncommunicative during team meetings.
• My friend can be a bit uncommunicative when she's upset.
• I find it frustrating when people are so uncommunicative about their feelings.
• The old house stood uncommunicative, its walls holding onto secrets of the past.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

pronoun a word that takes the place of a noun

• During the team meeting, the manager encouraged everyone to let it all hang out and share their honest opinions.
• At the party, we just decided to let it all hang out and have a good time.
• When you're on vacation, just let it all hang out and relax.
• In order to truly express yourself, you have to let it all hang out and be vulnerable.

noun the cry of a newborn baby

• The doctor noted the vagitus of the newborn as a sign of healthy lung function.
• The nurse smiled at the vagitus of the baby, knowing it was a good sign.
• I couldn't help but laugh at the little one's vagitus - it was so loud!
• The cacophony of vagitus filled the maternity ward, signaling new life and hope.

noun a person who is unable to speak due to a physical impairment of the voice

adjective describing a condition in which a person is unable to speak due to a physical impairment of the voice

• The patient was diagnosed with an aphonic condition, causing them to lose their ability to speak.
• My friend's throat infection left them aphonic for a few days.
• I can't believe I went all aphonic during my presentation, it was so embarrassing.
• The singer's performance was so powerful, it left the audience aphonic with awe.

adjective describing a sound or voice that is loud, strong, and enthusiastic

• The opera singer sang with a full-throated voice that filled the entire theater.
• She cheered for her favorite team with a full-throated roar.
• The comedian's joke got a full-throated laugh from the audience.
• The politician gave a full-throated defense of her policies during the debate.