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The Spectrum of Anger

Spectrums are an important way to communicate — whether expression emotion or intent. A few years ago Michael Hatch wrote a funny (and irreverent) book called Hatch’s Order of Magnitude that laid out dozens of different spectrums around us and the words we use to describe them. It’s like a  spectrum-based thesaurus! Here’s an example (excerpted from the longer original, with permission):

Shades of Anger

  1. Inert
  2. Stoical
  3. Pellucid
  4. Limpid
  5. Quiescent
  6. Tranquil
  7. Relaxed
  8. Phlegmatic
  9. Stolid
  10. Calm
  11. Composed
  12. Collected
  13. Unruffled
  14. Alert
  15. Nervous
  16. Anxious
  17. Uptight
  18. Displeased
  19. Fretful
  20. Frustrated
  21. Bitter
  22. Sullen
  23. Huffy
  24. Annoyed
  25. Grouchy
  26. Edgy
  27. Ruffled
  28. Cranky
  29. Testy
  30. Disgruntled
  31. Stewed
  32. Touchy
  33. Peevish
  34. Chafed
  35. Irritated
  36. Piqued
  37. Roiled
  38. Irked
  39. Rankled
  40. Upset
  41. Bristling
  42. Mad
  43. Angry
  44. Galled
  45. Fuming
  46. Indignant
  47. Boiling
  48. Irate
  49. Infuriated
  50. Furious
  51. Enraged
  52. Rabid
  53. Unglued
  54. Possessed
  55. Storming
  56. Virulent
  57. Wrathful
  58. Explosive
  59. Apoplectic
  60. Berserk
  61. Nuclear

Comments

  1. December 7, 2012

    In my unbiased opinion, I think this list is just the tops….Seriously though, I somehow missed he email from Mr. Blatner a few months back letting me know this would be posted online, but very cool to see it up here! Good luck with ‘Spectrum’ David!

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