emotional reaction
Gut-level feeling response
An emotional reaction is a feeling that arises in response to something—a comment, event, or situation.
The phrase often implies the reaction is instinctive rather than reasoned: My first emotional reaction was anger, but after thinking it through, I understood their point.
It can carry a dismissive edge, suggesting someone responded from feeling rather than logic.
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- feelingSensed inner state
- gut punchShocking emotional blow
- outburstSudden emotional release
- tearsViolent pulls apart
lump in throat · visceral · gut · raw nerve · hit a nerve · triggered · fight or flight · caught off guard · overwhelmed · charged · raw · intense · shock · recoil · flinch · gasp · surge · flood
- reactionsresponse, gasp, wince, flinch, startle
- sensitivitysensitivity, sensitive, hypersensitivity, oversensitivity, hypersensitive
emotional reactionanalytical thinking
Systematic examination of parts
clinical assessment · logical thinking · scientific approach
emotional reactionindifference
Lack of interest
apathy · emotional numbness · equanimity · impassivity · detachment
emotional reactionmeasured response
Controlled, proportional reply
self-regulation · poker face · stiff upper lip · keeping one's cool · level-headedness
emotion, emotional, emotionally, emote, emotes, emoted, emoting, emotive, emotionless