All click-worthy titles have one thing in common — Power Words!
The next time you craft your titles or headlines, think about the emotions it will trigger.
Human beings are deeply affected by the unconscious mind and triggered subconsciously.
A study done by Harvard in 2012 found that humans first perceive via emotions.
Power Words
I created a list of 647+ Power Words you can use to craft amazing titles and headings.
These Power Words are based on Robert Plutchik’s Theory and the Wheel of Emotions.
Anger
People get angry every day and sometimes it’s just one specific word in the right context that triggered their emotional response.
When you get angry your body is flooded with hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
The natural response to anger is to divert your blood to your muscles in preparation to fight.
Use an Anger Power Word from below within your title to frame a negative reaction.
| Aggravate | Disturbed | Restless |
| Agony | Dreadful | Revenge |
| Annoyed | Enraged | Salty |
| Annoying | Fight | Savage |
| Assault | Force | Scream |
| Atrocious | Frantic | Severe |
| Attack | Frenzy | Shatter |
| Battle | Frustrating | Shocking |
| Beat | Furious | Snarky |
| Bitter | Grumpy | Sour |
| Bold | Hassle | Tantrum |
| Break | Hate | Terrible |
| Bullishly | Heated | Touchy |
| Conflict | Hijack | Toxic |
| Corrupting | Hostile | Tragic |
| Crabby | Insane | Unhappy |
| Crazed | Insult | Unnerving |
| Crazy | Malicious | Unreliable |
| Cruel | Offensive | Unstable |
| Crush | Outburst | Uproar |
| Curse | Outrageous | Upsetting |
| Damaging | Panic | Vicious |
| Deadly | Provoke | Violated |
| Destroy | Punch | Violent |
| Disastrous | Rabid | Volatile |
| Disgusted | Rage | Wicked |
| Disputed | Resentful | Wrath |
Anticipation
Feeling hyped for a new product launch?
In most cases, this “hyped” feeling is due to the anticipation emotional response.
You are looking forward to something, although your expectations remain neutral.
Anticipation Power Words are used to build momentum and create social buzz.
| Accelerate | Gather | Prediction |
| Advance | Goal | Prevent |
| Announce | Guide | Promise |
| Anxiety | Hope | Quick |
| Astonish | Hopeful | Rapid |
| Avoid | Hunch | Reveal |
| Awaiting | Hurry | Reward |
| Beginning | Hustle | Rush |
| Bonus | Hyper | Signal |
| Build | Idea | Soon |
| Bustle | Ignite | Sprint |
| Considering | Insight | Streamline |
| Craving | Inspiration | Surprise |
| Delayed | Inspiring | Suspense |
| Discovery | Kickstart | Teaser |
| Eager | Launch | Tension |
| Early | Learn | Think |
| Enthusiasm | Limited | Today |
| Exclusive | Little-known | Understand |
| Expect | Look-ahead | Urge |
| Expecting | Lust | Urgent |
| Expedite | Mystery | Wait |
| Explained | Now | Warning |
| Express | Optimism | Watch |
| Fast | Outlook | Wishful |
| Forecast | Passion | Wonder |
| Future | Plan | Yearning |
Disgust
Have your friends ever told you stories about their drunken adventures?
More specifically, how their night ended — messy and vomit every where.
Just hearing that probably makes you cringe.
Disgust Power Words change the mood to “that’s just wrong…but I can’t look away”.
| Awful | Sickening | Putrid |
| Crappy | Spoiled | Undeserving |
| Creepy | Taboo | Worthless |
| Cringe | Ugly | Impure |
| Crude | Uncomfortable | Criminal |
| Dirty | Vile | Unappetizing |
| Disgraceful | Vulgar | Unsavoury |
| Disgusting | Sloppy | Dishonorable |
| Evil | Grimy | Slimy |
| Filthy | Grungy | Ungodly |
| Foul | Tacky | Blameworthy |
| Gross | Frumpy | Pathetic |
| Horrible | Scandal | Valueless |
| Icky | Annoying | Malicious |
| Junk | Appalling | Off-putting |
| Messy | Dump | Common |
| Nasty | Smelly | Unattractive |
| Nauseating | Loathsome | Naughty |
| Obscene | Despicable | Sleazy |
| Plague | Offensive | Trashy |
| Reject | Bad | Mediocre |
| Repelled | Wretched | Low-grade |
| Repulsive | Obnoxious | Humiliating |
| Revolting | Horrid | Unsightly |
| Rotten | Dreadful | Unwholesome |
| Shameful | Corrupt | Moist |
| Shitty | Poor | Regrettable |
Fear
Have you ever read a scary story and decided to keep the hall light on .. just in case?
Why do we get scared from the words we read, it’s only a story — right?
Our subconscious has a fight-or-flight response hardwired, so by nature we are scared of danger.
Fear Power Words will make you feel an emotional response towards something you don’t want to happen.
| Abusive | Forbidden | Savage |
| Aggressive | Freaky | Scam |
| Alarming | Frighting | Scary |
| Alert | Ghostly | Scathing |
| Assault | Grave | Self-destructive |
| Avoid | Grim | Shady |
| Beware | Gruesome | Shocking |
| Bloodcurdling | Hair-raising | Sinister |
| Brutal | Harmful | Soul-crushing |
| Caution | Heart-stopping | Soul-destroying |
| Chilling | Hellish | Spine-chilling |
| Crisis | Hideous | Steal |
| Cutthroat | Hopeless | Stolen |
| Dangerous | Horrifying | Stressful |
| Dark | Hostile | Terrifying |
| Daunting | Lethal | Threat |
| Deadly | Life-threatening | Toxic |
| Deathlike | Miserable | Trap |
| Deviant | Monstrous | Troublesome |
| Devilishly | Morbid | Unhealthy |
| Diabolical | Nightmarish | Unholy |
| Doomed | Ominous | Unknown |
| Doubtful | Painful | Unsettling |
| Emergency | Poisonous | Unspeakable |
| Evil | Reckless | Unworthy |
| Failure | Risky | Vulnerable |
| Fatal | Sabotage | Wicked |
Joy
Your favorite baseball team was victorious and you get to brag at work tomorrow.
That is the feeling of joy and happiness that drives your actions.
Think about it, every time you are happy you want to share your news with the world.
But when we are sad, we’d rather crawl up in a blanket and watch Netflix all day in the darkness of our sorrows.
Try using Joy Power Words to drive people to take positive actions.
| Absolute | Exciting | Love |
| Acceptable | Exhilarating | Lovely |
| Adorable | Fabulous | Lucky |
| Alluring | Fantastic | Nurturing |
| Amazing | Favorable | Paradise |
| Amusing | Favored | Playful |
| Astonishing | Fortunate | Pleasure |
| Awe-Inspiring | Free | Profitable |
| Beautiful | Friendly | Profound |
| Beneficial | Fun | Promising |
| Best | Fun-filled | Proven |
| Blessed | Gifted | Satisfy |
| Blissful | Glorious | Satisfying |
| Brilliant | Golden | Seductive |
| Buzz-worthy | Good-humored | Sparky |
| Cheerful | Great | Splendid |
| Chipper | Greatest | Stunning |
| Comfy | Happiness | Successful |
| Complete | Healthy | Thankful |
| Dazzling | Heartwarming | Thrilled |
| Definitive | Helpful | Triumphant |
| Delight | Inspiring | Upbeat |
| Devoted | Jazzy | Victorious |
| Effective | Jubilant | Wealthy |
| Energizing | Laughable | Well-off |
| Enjoyable | Lively | Wonderful |
| Entertaining | Lovable | Worry-free |
Sadness
You just got a message from your Mom, Skipper died..
.. and you didn’t have a chance to say goodbye.
That’s just sad, I don’t care who you are!
Hearing words like “died” makes us want to wallow in sorrow.
Sadness Power Words invoke a feeling of grief that make us feel bad.
| Agonizing | Flunked | Shame |
| Awful | Gloomy | Shameful |
| Botched | Grief-stricken | Sluggish |
| Break | Gut-wrenching | Sorrow |
| Broken | Hardship | Soul-stirring |
| Cowardly | Heartbreaking | Stupid |
| Crisis | Horrible | Tear-jerking |
| Crushing | Hurtful | Tearful |
| Cutback | Inferior | Tearful |
| Dark | Insecure | Threatened |
| Dead | Lacking | Tormenting |
| Death | Last | Touching |
| Deceptive | Loser | Tragic |
| Decreasing | Loss | Troubled |
| Defeat | Lowest | Ugliest |
| Depressing | Miserable | Unbearable |
| Devastating | Misery | Unfortunate |
| Difficult | Misfortune | Unsettling |
| Disappointing | Missed | Unsuccessful |
| Disastrous | Pathetic | Upsetting |
| Disturbed | Pitiful | Useless |
| Dreadful | Pointless | Victim |
| Dying | Poor | Wasted |
| Embarrassing | Poverty | Wasting |
| Exhausting | Problem | Weepy |
| Expired | Ruined | Worst |
| Failure | Sensitive | Wrong |
Surprise
The anticipation has been building for months, but something amazing happens.
Without notice, your favorite TV show releases their new season on Netflix to binge!
Being unprepared for something will come as a surprise and leave us with our minds blown.
Use Surprise Power Words to shock your audience in a good or bad way.
| Alarming | Exclusive | Revelation |
| Amazing | Exposed | Rumor |
| Ambushed | Extraordinary | Scandal |
| Announcement | Eye-opening | Scoop |
| Astonishing | Flabbergasted | Secret |
| Astounding | Fuzzy | Shaken |
| Awe | Gift | Shell-shocked |
| Baffled | Impressed | Shocking |
| Bewildered | Impulsively | Spectacular |
| Bewitching | Jaw-dropping | Speechless |
| Blindsided | Jolted | Spoiler |
| Blown-away | Little-known | Startling |
| Boggling | Lost | Striking |
| Bombshell | Marvel | Stunned |
| Breathtaking | Mesmerizing | Stunning |
| Busted | Mind-blowing | Suddenly |
| Captured | Miracle | Swiftly |
| Caught | Mystify | Terrific |
| Challenging | New | Traumatized |
| Complex | Open-mouthed | Unaware |
| Confused | Perplexed | Unexpected |
| Dazed | Problematic | Unexpectedly |
| Devastated | Puzzled | Unforeseen |
| Discover | Quickly | Unnerved |
| Discovery | Remarkable | Unprepared |
| Enlightening | Reveal | Wide-eyed |
| Exciting | Revealing | Won |
Trust
A random stranger walks up to you and asks to borrow money, what do you say?
Psssh .. heck no, that’s my hard earned money stranger!
Although, your best friend asking for money is different and you know they are “good for it”.
Why is your best friend more trustworthy?
They earned your trust and proved themselves to be trusting.
Trust Power Words help to earn trust by invoking a sense of credibility.
| Absolutely | Freedom | Realistic |
| Accurate | Genuine | Recommended |
| Assurance | Good | Reliable |
| Authentic | Greatest | Research |
| Authority | Guarantee | Results |
| Backed | Guard | Risk-free |
| Bank | Holy | Safe |
| Believe | Honest | Science |
| Beneficial | Honorable | Secure |
| Best | Improved | Senior |
| Best-seller | Ironclad | Seriously |
| Certain | Leader | Solid |
| Choice | Legitimate | Stable |
| Confident | Loyalty | Strategy |
| Correct | Master | Success |
| Credit | Maximum | Supreme |
| Easy | Natural | Tangible |
| Effective | Organic | Tested |
| Elite | Original | Top |
| Exactly | Perfect | Top-grade |
| Excellent | Preferred | True-life |
| Expert | Premium | Trustworthy |
| Fact | Professional | Truthful |
| Faith | Profitable | Undeniable |
| Favorite | Proven | Validated |
| First-class | Quality | Verified |
| Formula | Real | Victory |
I hope this guide helps you find the right power words to use in your titles and headlines.
The best power words trigger the expected emotional response and captivate the reader.
Bookmark this page and come back every time you create new content that requires a title.
If you have any power words you think would be beneficial let me know in the comments.
Good luck on your road to enriching your titles with these 647+ Power Words!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I could make a commission from your purchase.
