Exploring The Emotion Of Anger

One of the major emotions we use in descriptive writing is anger. And although we can use the word in many different forms, repetitive usage of the same word, or close variations, becomes tedious and boring for our readers. Below I have listed alternative descriptions of the emotion of anger and while it isn't a complete list, it gives you an opportunity to explore other ways of describing your character.

Physical Signs 

1. Flaring nostrils
2. Sweeping arm gestures
3. Handling people or objects roughly
4. Legs planted wide
5. Baring of teeth
6. Shaking fist
7. Protruding eyes
8. Flexing fingers or arm muscles
9. Cracking knuckles
10. Cold, hard, flinty eyes
11. Glaring
12. Red face
13. Lips curling
14. Crossing arms
15. Nails biting into palms
16. Slamming doors, cupboards or drawers
17. A vein that pulses, twitches or becomes engorged
18. Deploying sarcasm
19. Picking fights (verbal or physical)
20. Stomping or stamping

Internal Responses

1. Grinding teeth
2. Muscles quivering
3. Heartbeat pounding
4. Body tense
5. Heat flushing through body
6. Sweating

Mental Responses

1. Irritability
2. Poor listening
3. Jumping to conclusions
4. Irrational reactions
5. Demanding immediate action
6. Impetuosity
7. Taking inappropriate risks
8. Fantasizing violence

Using these prompts, you should be able to create other angry descriptions of your own to add to your character. Combining a selection of these descriptions, plus some of your own, will create a convincing character who will be remembered by your readers. Good luck!