About this puzzle
Kids feel a lot more than happy, sad, and mad, but they often lack the words to say so. This puzzle includes those basics and then adds feelings that are harder to name, like Jealous, Embarrassed, Frustrated, and Disappointed, along with good ones such as Proud, Brave, Curious, and Grateful.
The note for each word describes how that feeling might show up in the body or in a real moment, and many suggest a simple way to cope. That makes the page a natural fit for social-emotional learning lessons, morning meetings, counseling sessions, or a calm conversation at the kitchen table. Every feeling on the list is normal, and the notes say so.
The 24 words in this puzzle
Every word, with a short note. Handy for teaching the vocabulary before or after solving.
In every version (12)
- Angry
- A hot, strong feeling when something seems unfair or goes wrong. Taking slow, deep breaths or walking away for a minute can help you cool down.
- Bored
- The restless feeling when nothing seems interesting. Boredom can actually spark new ideas, so try drawing, building, reading, or making up a game.
- Brave
- Being brave means doing something even when part of you feels scared, like trying a new sport or speaking up for a friend. Brave people still feel fear.
- Calm
- Feeling peaceful, quiet, and relaxed inside. Breathing slowly, stretching, or listening to soft music can help your body get calm.
- Excited
- A bubbly, can't-sit-still feeling before something you are looking forward to, like a birthday or a field trip.
- Happy
- Feeling glad and good inside, like when you play with a friend or hear a favorite song. Happy feelings often show up as smiles and laughter.
- Loved
- The warm, safe feeling of knowing someone cares about you. Hugs, kind words, and spending time together are all ways people help each other feel loved.
- Proud
- The good feeling you get after working hard and doing something well, like finishing a tough puzzle or learning to ride a bike.
- Sad
- Feeling down or unhappy, maybe after losing something or saying goodbye. Crying is okay, and talking to someone you trust can help.
- Scared
- Feeling afraid that something bad might happen. Your heart may beat fast. Telling a grown-up what is scaring you often makes it feel smaller.
- Shy
- Feeling quiet or unsure around new people or in new places. Lots of people feel shy at first and warm up with time. A smile or a wave is a good first step.
- Silly
- A playful, giggly, goofy mood. Being silly with friends is a great way to laugh and relax, as long as everyone is having fun together.
Added in Medium and Hard (8)
- Curious
- Wanting to know more about something. Curious people ask why and how, which is exactly how scientists, inventors, and explorers get started.
- Grateful
- Feeling thankful for people, things, or moments in your life. Some families share one thing they are grateful for each night at dinner.
- Hopeful
- Believing that something good can happen, even if things are hard right now. Hope helps people keep trying.
- Jealous
- Wishing you had what someone else has, like a toy or attention. Almost everyone feels jealous sometimes, and naming the feeling is a good first step.
- Lonely
- Feeling alone or left out, even when other people are nearby. Inviting someone to play or sharing the feeling with a friend can help.
- Nervous
- A jittery feeling before something new or important, like a test or a performance. Some people call it butterflies in the stomach.
- Surprised
- The sudden feeling when something unexpected happens. Surprises can be happy, like a gift, or startling, like a loud noise.
- Worried
- When your mind keeps thinking about something that might go wrong. Worries often shrink once you say them out loud to someone you trust.
Added in Hard (4)
- Confused
- The feeling when something does not make sense yet. Everyone feels confused when learning something new, and asking a question is a smart way to help.
- Disappointed
- The heavy, let-down feeling when something you hoped for does not happen, like a canceled playdate. Talking about it and making a new plan can help.
- Embarrassed
- Feeling awkward when you think others noticed a mistake. Your cheeks might turn warm or red, and the feeling usually fades quickly.
- Frustrated
- The upset feeling when something keeps not working, like a tricky knot or a hard math problem. A short break can make it easier to try again.
A few facts to share while you solve
- Scientists have found that people around the world recognize several basic facial expressions, such as happiness, sadness, fear, and anger.
- Simply naming a feeling, sometimes called name it to tame it, can help calm strong emotions.
- Slow breathing, where you breathe out longer than you breathe in, helps the body relax by slowing the heart rate.
Four versions of this puzzle
Pick a version with the buttons above the grid. Each one has its own grid and answer key, and your progress on each is saved separately in this browser.
| Version | Words | Grid | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 12 | 10 × 10 | The 12 most familiar words, reading forward across and down. |
| Medium | 20 | 13 × 13 | Twenty words across, down and diagonally. No backwards words. |
| Hard | 24 | 16 × 16 | Every word, in all eight directions including backwards, with look-alike filler letters. |
| Large print | 12 | 10 × 10 | The 12 most familiar words on a small grid with big letters. No backwards words. |
Hard and large print versions
Hard emotions word search: all 24 words on a 16 × 16 grid, hidden forward, backward, up, down and along both diagonals, with filler letters borrowed from the word list. Print it without the word list for an extra challenge. Play the hard version, or see all hard word searches.
Large print emotions word search: the 12 most familiar words on a 10 × 10 grid, printed with big letters and a big word list, and no backwards words. Play the large print version, or see all large print word searches.
Printing this word search
Press Print / PDF above the puzzle. You get a clean one-page sheet with the title, the grid, a word list with tick boxes, and optional name and date lines. The answer key prints on a second page. Prefer a file? Download it as a PDF or an image to print later or drop into a worksheet. Whatever version is showing on screen is the one that prints, and the large print version prints with bigger letters.
How to play online
- Find a word from the list in the grid. Scanning for its first letter is the quickest way.
- Drag across the word from its first letter to its last. On a phone, you can also tap the first letter, then the last.
- Found words get highlighted and crossed off. Stuck? Hint circles the first letter of a word you haven’t found.
Read the full guide to solving word searches, with tips that make big grids much faster.
Questions and answers
What age is this emotions word search for?
It is aimed at kids about 5 to 10. Short words like Sad, Calm, and Happy are good for beginning readers, while Embarrassed and Frustrated suit older kids. Younger children can solve it with an adult and talk about each feeling as they find it.
How can this puzzle be used for social-emotional learning?
After solving, ask kids to pick one word and share a time they felt that way, or act out the feeling with their face and let classmates guess. The notes give simple coping ideas, like deep breaths or talking to someone, that you can practice together.
Are there only negative feelings on the word list?
No. The list is balanced on purpose. It includes comfortable feelings like Happy, Proud, Calm, Grateful, and Hopeful alongside harder ones like Angry, Worried, and Lonely, so kids learn that every feeling is normal and has a name.
Is there an answer key for this emotions word search?
Yes. Choose Print / PDF above the puzzle and keep “Add an answer key page” ticked. The key prints on its own page, with every word highlighted. While playing online, Show answers outlines any words you haven’t found yet.
Can I print copies for my class or group?
Yes. Every puzzle on BetterWordSearch is free to print for personal, classroom, library and homeschool use. Print as many copies as you need. To change the words or make several different versions of the grid, use the word search maker.
What changes between Easy, Medium, Hard and Large print?
Easy hides the 12 most familiar words, reading left to right and top to bottom. Medium uses 20 words and adds diagonals. Hard hides all 24 words in every direction, including backwards, with look-alike filler letters. Large print uses the same words as Easy on a small grid and prints with big letters.
