Emotional Intensity Vocabulary

adverb in a way that causes great physical or mental pain

• The patient endured an agonizingly long wait for the test results.
• It was agonizingly boring sitting through that lecture.
• I'm agonizingly hangry right now, let's grab some food!
• The decision to break up with her was agonizingly difficult for him.

noun the process or result of combustion

adjective describing something that is on fire or producing flames

• The firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the burning building.
• I can smell something burning in the kitchen.
• His mixtape is straight fire, it's burning up the charts.
• The passion in her eyes was like a burning flame, impossible to ignore.

noun the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex

• The climax of the novel was the dramatic confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist.
• The movie's climax had everyone on the edge of their seats.
• Dude, that party last night was the climax of the summer!
• As the sun set behind the mountains, it felt like nature was reaching its climax.

adjective causing intense pain or suffering; extremely painful

• The excruciating pain in her leg required immediate medical attention.
• I can't believe how excruciatingly boring that movie was.
• That workout was excruciating, I can barely move.
• The excruciating wait for the test results felt like an eternity.

adverb in a very intense and painful manner

• The excruciatingly long meeting lasted well into the evening.
• I waited in line for an excruciatingly long time before finally getting my coffee.
• That movie was excruciatingly boring, I almost fell asleep in the theater.
• The suspense was excruciatingly intense as the final moments of the game played out.

noun intense and passionate feeling or enthusiasm

adjective fervent, showing great intensity or feeling

• The scientist spoke with great fervor about the potential breakthrough in cancer research.
• She talked about her favorite TV show with so much fervor, it was contagious.
• The fans cheered with fervor as their team scored the winning goal.
• His eyes burned with fervor as he passionately defended his beliefs.

noun the act of making something higher or more intense

verb to make or become higher or more intense

• The use of bright colors can heighten the visual appeal of the room.
• Adding more spices can heighten the flavor of the dish.
• Watching a horror movie late at night really heightens the spookiness.
• The tension in the room seemed to heighten as the argument escalated.

noun the action of making something higher or more intense

verb the act of increasing or raising something to a higher level

• The heightening of tensions between the two countries has led to increased military presence along the border.
• The heightening of drama in the reality TV show has kept viewers hooked on every episode.
• The heightening of the party last night was off the charts!
• The heightening of emotions during the heated debate made it difficult to reach a resolution.

noun a very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one

• The hiker stood at the edge of the precipice, admiring the breathtaking view.
• I can't believe we climbed to the top of that huge precipice!
• Dude, that drop-off is like a total precipice, be careful!
• The company was on the precipice of bankruptcy before the new CEO turned things around.

verb to utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry

• The sound of shrieking could be heard from the top of the mountain.
• I couldn't sleep last night because my neighbors were shrieking at each other.
• The kids were shrieking with excitement when they saw the ice cream truck.
• The sirens were shrieking through the city, signaling a state of emergency.

noun a strong, regular beat or pulse

verb to beat or pulsate with a strong, regular rhythm

• The patient complained of a constant throb in his lower back.
• My head is starting to throb from all this loud music.
• I can feel my heart throb whenever I see my crush.
• The pain of losing a loved one can make your heart throb with sorrow.