# The Conflict Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles (Volume 1) ### Relationship Friction A Divorce or Breakup A Child Wanting to Live with One’s Ex A Love Interest Taking Up with Someone Else A Partner Being Unwilling to Commit A Romance Being Stymied A Romantic Competitor Entering the Scene An Ex Interfering in One’s Life An Unwanted Romantic Advance Being Betrayed or Abandoned by a Trusted Ally or Friend Being Cheated On Being Forced to Marry Being Ignored or Blown Off Being Insulted Being Manipulated Being Rejected by a Potential Love Interest Being Taken for Granted Being Unable to Forgive Someone Disappointing Someone Discovering a Spouse’s Secret Domestic Abuse Family Secrets Being Revealed Having to Betray a Friend or Loved One Having to Break Someone’s Heart Losing One’s Temper One’s Infidelity Being Discovered Peer Pressure Seeing an Ex with Someone New Sexual Dysfunction The Reappearance of an Estranged Relative ### Failures And Mistakes A Lie Impacting Someone Else A Prank Going Wrong Being Unprepared Breaking or Destroying an Important Item Causing a Car Accident Causing a Workplace Hazard Confiding in the Wrong Person Doing Something Stupid While Impaired Dropping the Ball Failing at Something Getting Caught Doing Something Wrong Getting Caught in a Lie Having a One-Night Stand with A Co-Worker Having Poor Judgment Losing a Bet Losing a Phone Making a Bad Investment Making a Crucial Mistake at Work Sending a Private Message to the Wrong Person Taking Advice from the Wrong Person Underestimating Danger Unknowingly Sharing Incorrect Information ### Moral Dilemmas and Temptations Being Given an Opportunity to Cheat Being Offered an Easy Way Out Being Offered Dirty Money Being Pressured to Cover for a Friend Breaking the Law for a Good Reason Discovering an Outcome Has Been Fixed Facing a Difficult Decision with No Easy Solution Having Feelings for Someone One Shouldn’t Having to Decide to Help or Do Nothing Having to Steal to Obtain Something Vital Indulging When One Should Not Leaving Someone to the Consequences of their Actions Making a Discovery that Threatens the Bond of Friendship Needing to Sabotage Someone to Win Pulling the Plug on Someone Sacrificing Ethics or Morals for the Greater Good Someone Witnessing One’s Misbehavior Witnessing Abuse Witnessing Corruption Witnessing Discrimination ### Duty and Responsibility A Child Getting Sick A Problem at a Child’s School An Elderly Loved One Requiring Care Being Assigned an Undesirable Partner Being Assigned an Unpleasant Task Being the Bearer of Bad News Bureaucracy Tying One’s Hands Chafing Under Poor Leadership Childcare Falling Through Having to Break a Promise Having to Punish Someone Having to Work with an Enemy Losing a Job Losing a Source of Transportation Needing to Disobey an Order Receiving a Bad Performance Review Work-Life Balance Being Threatened ### Increased Pressure and Ticking Clocks A Deadline Being Moved Up A Delay that Makes One Late Being Blackmailed Being Given an Ultimatum Being Hunted Being Made to Wait Being Saddled with Unexpected Responsibility Being Thrust into the Spotlight Getting Lost Having to Beat the Clock Having to Prove One’s Innocence Incurring an Unexpected Expense Missing an Important Meeting or Deadline Realizing One Is at a Disadvantage Unwanted Scrutiny ### No-Win Scenarios Being Caught in the Middle Being Set Up to Fail Being Unable to Save Everyone Conflicting Internal Needs or Desires Having to Hurt Someone to Save Them from a Worse Fate Having to Pick the Lesser of Two Evils Needing to Sacrifice One for the Good of Many --- # The Conflict Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles (Volume 2) ### Loss Of Control A Break-In A Family Member Dying A Partner Racking up Debt A Recession or Economy Crash An Unexpected Pregnancy Bad Weather Being Captured Being Evicted Being Framed Being Given Bad News Being Injured Being Orphaned Being Pushed toward a Specific Destiny Being Scammed Being Stranded Being Taken in for Questioning Discovering One Has a Child Getting in a Car Accident Having a Miscarriage Having a Panic Attack Having to Leave Someone Behind Having to Move Losing a Child in a Public Place Not Achieving a Coveted Goal Rent Being Raised The Death of a Pet ### Power Struggles Being Arrested Being Bullied Being Falsely Accused Being Pressured by Family Being Pressured to Conform Being Sabotaged Being Sued Clashing Beliefs Experiencing Discrimination Experiencing Harassment Forced Attendance Misaligned Goals Nepotism or Favoritism ### Losing an Advantage A Competitor Showing Up A Place of Safety Being Compromised Being Cast Out of a Group Having to Leave One’s Home or Homeland Lacking an Important Resource Losing a Key Witness Losing a Vital Item Losing Access to Someone Important Losing Access to Something Important Losing an Ally Losing One’s Funding Rules Changing to One’s Disadvantage Running Out of Critical Supplies Something Important Being Stolen ### Ego-Related Conflicts An Unexpected Loss of Prestige or Wealth Being Cut from a Team Being Discredited Being Excluded Being Lied To Being Micromanaged Being Physically Marred before an Important Event Experiencing a Crisis of Self-Doubt Facing a Challenge beyond One’s Skill or Knowledge Having to Rely on Others Having to Stay Behind Learning that One Was Adopted Needing to Borrow Money Not Being Taken Seriously One’s Authority Being Threatened Public Humiliation Telling the Truth but Not Being Believed ### Dangers and Threats A Dangerous Crossing A House Fire A Loved One Being Put in Harm’s Way A Mechanical Malfunction A Natural Disaster A Threatening Criminal Being Set Free A Way of Life Being Threatened Being Assaulted by a Stranger Being Assigned a Dangerous Task Being Cut Off from Help Being Exposed to an Allergen Being Poisoned Being Recognized Being Targeted by a Monster or Supernatural Force Being Targeted for Revenge Being Trapped Facing a Threat While Unarmed Having to Hide or Escape Detection Having to Make a Final Stand Having to Split up for Safety War Breaking Out Witness Intimidation ### Miscellaneous Challenges A Fear or Phobia Rearing Its Head A Health Issue Cropping Up A Repressed Memory Resurfacing An Anticipated Event Being Canceled An Unexpected Change of Plans An Unwanted Intrusion Being Cursed Being Forced to Lead Being in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time Being Mistaken for Someone Else Being Placed under a Spell Being Unable to Forgive Oneself Contemplating Suicide Discovering a Dead Body Experiencing Memory Loss Having a Crisis of Faith Having to Blindly Trust Someone Having Unwanted Powers Needing to Circumvent Security Needing to Infiltrate a Group Needing to Lie Convincingly Not Knowing What One Wants Physical Exhaustion --- # The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Character Stress and Volatility Addiction Arousal Attraction Being Stuck Bereavement Boredom Brainwashing Burnout Chronic Pain Cognitive Bias Cognitive Decline Cold Competition Compulsion Confinement Danger Deception Dehydration Distraction Exhaustion Hangover Heat Hormonal Imbalance Hunger Hyperactivity Hypnotized Illness Indecision Injury Instability Intoxication Isolation Lethargy Malnutrition Mental Health Condition Mortal Peril Pain Panic Attack Physical Disorientation Physical Health Condition Possession Pregnancy Pressure Psychosis Puberty Scrutiny Sensory Overload Sleep Deprivation Stress Substance Withdrawal Torture Trauma --- # The Emotion Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Character Expression Acceptance Admiration Adoration Agitation Amazement Amusement Anger Anguish Annoyance Anticipation Anxiety Appalled Apprehension Awe Betrayed Bitterness Certainty Concern Confidence Conflicted Confusion Connectedness Contempt Curiosity Defeat Defensiveness Defiance Denial Depressed Desire Despair Desperation Determination Devastation Disappointment Disbelief Discouragement Disgust Disillusionment Dissatisfaction Doubt Dread Eagerness Elation Emasculation Embarrassment Empathy Envy Euphoria Excitement Fear Fearlessness Flustered Frustration Gratitude Grief Guilt Happiness Hatred Homesickness Hopefulness Horror Humbled Humiliation Hurt Hysteria Impatience Inadequacy Indifference Insecurity Inspired Intimidation Irritation Jealousy Loneliness Longing Love Lust Moodiness Moved Neglected Nervousness Nostalgia Obsession Overwhelmed Panic Paranoia Peacefulness Pity Pleased Powerlessness Pride Rage Regret Relief Reluctance Remorse Resentment Resignation Sadness Sappiness Satisfaction Schadenfreude Scorn Self-Loathing Self-Pity Shame Shock Skepticism Smugness Somberness Stunned Surprise Suspicion Sympathy Terror Tormented Unappreciated Uncertainty Unease Validation Valued Vengefulness Vindication Vulnerability Wanderlust Wariness Wistfulness Worry Worthlessness --- # The Emotional Wound Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Psychological Trauma ### Crime and Victimization A Carjacking A Home Invasion A Physical Assault Being Held Captive Being Sexually Violated Being Stalked Being Treated as Property Being Victimized by a Perpetrator Who Was Never Caught Identity Theft Witnessing a Murder ### Disabilities and Disfigurements A Learning Disability A Physical Disfigurement A Speech Impediment A Traumatic Brain Injury Battling a Mental Health Condition Being So Beautiful It’s All People See Falling Short of Society’s Physical Standards Infertility Living with Chronic Pain or Illness Losing a Limb Losing One of the Five Senses Sexual Dysfunction Social Difficulties ### Failures and Mistakes Accidentally Killing Someone Bearing the Responsibility for Many Deaths Being Legitimately Incarcerated for a Crime Caving to Peer Pressure Choosing Not to Be Involved in a Child’s Life Cracking Under Pressure Declaring Bankruptcy Failing at School Failing to Do the Right Thing Failing to Save Someone’s Life Making a Very Public Mistake Poor Judgment Leading to Unintended Consequences ### Injustice and Hardship An Abuse of Power Becoming Homeless for Reasons Beyond One’s Control Being Bullied Being Falsely Accused of a Crime Being Fired or Laid Off Being Forced to Keep a Dark Secret Being Forced to Leave One’s Homeland Being the Victim of a Vicious Rumor Being Unfairly Blamed for Someone’s Death Experiencing Poverty Living Through Civil Unrest Living Through Famine or Drought Prejudice or Discrimination Unrequited Love Wrongful Imprisonment ### Misplaced Trust and Betrayals A Sibling’s Betrayal A Toxic Relationship Abandonment over an Unexpected Pregnancy Being Disappointed by a Role Model Being Disowned or Shunned Being Let Down by a Trusted Organization or Social System Being Rejected by One’s Peers Childhood Sexual Abuse by a Known Person Discovering a Partner’s Sexual Orientation Secret Discovering a Sibling's Abuse Domestic Abuse Financial Ruin Due to a Spouse’s Irresponsibility Finding Out One Was Adopted Finding Out One’s Child Was Abused Getting Dumped Having One’s Ideas or Work Stolen Incest Infidelity Learning That One’s Parent Had a Second Family Learning That One’s Parent Was a Monster Losing a Loved One Due to a Professional’s Negligence Misplaced Loyalty Telling the Truth but Not Being Believed ### Specific Childhood Wounds A Nomadic Childhood A Parent’s Abandonment or Rejection Becoming a Caregiver at an Early Age Being Raised by a Narcissist Being Raised by an Addict Being Raised by Neglectful Parents Being Raised by Overprotective Parents Being Raised by Parents Who Loved Conditionally Being Sent Away as a Child Being the Product of Rape Experiencing the Death of a Parent as a Child or Youth Growing up in a Cult Growing up in Foster Care Growing up in the Public Eye Growing up in the Shadow of a Successful Sibling Growing up with a Sibling’s Disability or Chronic Illness Having a Controlling or Overly Strict Parent Having Parents Who Favored One Child Over Another Living in a Dangerous Neighborhood Living in an Emotionally Repressed Household Living with an Abusive Caregiver Not Being a Priority Growing Up Witnessing Violence at a Young Age ### Traumatic Events A Child Dying on One’s Watch A House Fire A Life-Threatening Accident A Loved One’s Suicide A Miscarriage or Stillbirth A Natural or Man-Made Disaster A Parent’s Divorce A School Shooting A Terminal Illness Diagnosis A Terrorist Attack Being Humiliated by Others Being Tortured Being Trapped in a Collapsed Building Being Trapped with a Dead Body Divorcing One’s Spouse Getting Lost in a Natural Environment Giving up a Child for Adoption Having an Abortion Having to Kill to Survive Losing a Loved One to a Random Act of Violence The Death of One’s Child Watching Someone Die --- # The Negative Trait Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Character Flaws ABRASIVE ADDICTIVE ANTISOCIAL APATHETIC CALLOUS CATTY CHILDISH COCKY COMPULSIVE CONFRONTATIONAL CONTROLLING COWARDLY CRUEL CYNICAL DEFENSIVE DEVIOUS DISHONEST DISLOYAL DISORGANIZED DISRESPECTFUL EVASIVE EVIL EXTRAVAGANT FANATICAL FLAKY FOOLISH FORGETFUL FRIVOLOUS FUSSY GOSSIPY GREEDY GRUMPY GULLIBLE HAUGHTY HOSTILE HUMORLESS HYPOCRITICAL IGNORANT IMPATIENT IMPULSIVE INATTENTIVE INDECISIVE INFLEXIBLE INHIBITED INSECURE IRRATIONAL IRRESPONSIBLE JEALOUS JUDGMENTAL KNOW-IT-ALL LAZY MACHO MANIPULATIVE MARTYR MATERIALISTIC MELODRAMATIC MISCHIEVOUS MORBID NAGGING NEEDY NERVOUS NOSY OBSESSIVE OVERSENSITIVE PARANOID PERFECTIONIST PESSIMISTIC POSSESSIVE PREJUDICED PRETENTIOUS PUSHY REBELLIOUS RECKLESS RESENTFUL ROWDY SCATTERBRAINED SELF-DESTRUCTIVE SELF-INDULGENT SELFISH SLEAZY SPOILED STINGY STUBBORN SUBSERVIENT SUPERSTITIOUS SUSPICIOUS TACTLESS TEMPERAMENTAL TIMID UNCOMMUNICATIVE UNCOOPERATIVE UNCOUTH UNETHICAL UNGRATEFUL UNINTELLIGENT VAIN VERBOSE VINDICTIVE VIOLENT VOLATILE WEAK-WILLED WHINY WITHDRAWN WORKAHOLIC WORRYWART --- # The Occupation Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers Actor Air Traffic Controller Animal Rescue Worker Animal Trainer Antiques Dealer Architect Auto Mechanic Babysitter Baker Barista Bartender Book Conservator Bouncer Bounty Hunter Business Tycoon Carpenter Cashier Chef Children’s Entertainer Chocolatier Clergy Member Concierge Conductor Coroner Corrections Officer Crime Scene Cleaner Dancer Deep Sea Diver (Commercial) Dentist Dietician Diplomat Docent Dog Groomer Dream Interpreter Driver (Car) Emergency Dispatcher Emergency Medical Responder Emergency Room Physician Ethical Hacker Farmer Fashion Designer Firefighter Flight Attendant Food Critic Food Stylist Fundraiser Funeral Director General Contractor Geologist Ghostwriter Glassblower Graphic Designer Home Health Aide Human Test Subject Hypnotherapist Interpreter Inventor Janitor Jewelry Designer Judge Landscape Designer Lawyer Librarian Lobbyist Locksmith Mail Carrier Makeup Artist Massage Therapist Master Brewer Mechanical Engineer Midwife Military Officer Model Nanny Novelist Nurse (RN) Outdoor Guide Paleontologist Paralegal Parole Officer Personal Assistant To A Celebrity Personal Shopper Personal Trainer Pest Control Technician Pharmacist Physical Therapist Pilot Podcaster Police Officer Politician Private Detective Professional Athlete Professional Mourner Professional Poker Player Professor Radio DJ Rancher Real Estate Agent Receptionist Recruiter Referee Reiki Master Reporter Robotics Engineer Secret Service Agent Security Guard Server Skydiving Instructor Small Business Owner Social Media Manager Social Worker Software Developer Sommelier Street Performer Talent Agent Tattoo Artist Taxidermist Teacher Therapist (Mental Health) Tour Guide Treasure Hunter Veterinarian Wedding Planner Yoga Instructor --- # The Positive Trait Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Character Attributes Adaptable Adventurous Affectionate Alert Ambitious Analytical Appreciative Bold Calm Cautious Centered Charming Confident Cooperative Courageous Courteous Creative Curious Decisive Diplomatic Disciplined Discreet Easygoing Efficient Empathetic Enthusiastic Extroverted Flamboyant Flirtatious Focused Friendly Funny Generous Gentle Happy Honest Honorable Hospitable Humble Idealistic Imaginative Independent Industrious Innocent Inspirational Intelligent Introverted Just Kind Loyal Mature Merciful Meticulous Nature-focused Nurturing Obedient Objective Observant Optimistic Organized Passionate Patient Patriotic Pensive Perceptive Persistent Persuasive Philosophical Playful Private Proactive Professional Proper Protective Quirky Resourceful Responsible Sensible Sensual Sentimental Simple Socially Aware Sophisticated Spiritual Spontaneous Spunky Studious Supportive Talented Thrifty Tolerant Traditional Trusting Uninhibited Unselfish Whimsical Wholesome Wise Witty --- # The Rural Setting Thesaurus A Writers Guide to Personal and Natural Places At Home Attic Backyard Basement Bathroom Birthday Party Bomb Shelter Chicken Coop Child’s Bedroom Flower Garden Garage Greenhouse Group Foster Home Halloween Party House Fire House Party Kitchen Living Room Man Cave Mansion Motor Home Nursery Outhouse Patio Deck Root Cellar Secret Passageway Teenager’s Bedroom Tool Shed Trailer Park Tree House Underground Storm Shelter Vegetable Patch Wake Wine Cellar Workshop At School Boarding School Custodial Supply Room Dorm Room Elementary School Classroom Gymnasium High School Cafeteria High School Hallway Locker Room Playground Preschool Principal’s Office Prom School Bus Science Lab Teacher’s Lounge University Lecture Hall University Quad Rural Sights Abandoned Mine Ancient Ruins Archery Range Barn Beach Party Campsite Church Country Road County Fair Farm Farmer’s Market Graveyard Hunting Cabin Landfill Lighthouse Mausoleum Orchard Pasture Quarry Ranch Rodeo Salvage Yard Slaughterhouse Summer Camp Taxidermist Wedding Reception Winery Nature and Landforms Arctic Tundra Badlands Beach Canyon Cave Creek Desert Forest Grotto Hiking Trail Hot Springs Lake Marsh Meadow Moors Mountains Ocean Pond Rainforest River Swamp Tropical Island Waterfall --- # The Urban Setting Thesaurus A Writers Guide to City Spaces ### IN THE CITY ALLEY BANK BIG CITY STREET BOARDROOM CAR ACCIDENT CAR WASH CHEAP MOTEL COMMUNITY CENTER CONDEMNED APARTMENT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITE COURTROOM ELEVATOR EMERGENCY ROOM EMPTY LOT FACTORY FIRE STATION FITNESS CENTER FUNERAL HOME GAS STATION HAIR SALON HOMELESS SHELTER HOSPITAL ROOM HOTEL ROOM JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER LAUNDROMAT LIBRARY MECHANIC’S SHOP MILITARY BASE MORGUE NEWSROOM NURSING HOME OFFICE CUBICLE PARK PARKING GARAGE PARKING LOT PENTHOUSE SUITE POLICE STATION PRISON CELL PSYCHIATRIC WARD PUBLIC RESTROOM REFUGEE CAMP RUN-DOWN APARTMENT SEWERS SMALL TOWN STREET SPA TATTOO PARLOR THERAPIST’S OFFICE UNDERPASS VET CLINIC WAITING ROOM ### RESTAURANTS BAKERY BAR CASUAL DINING RESTAURANT COFFEEHOUSE DELI DINER FAST FOOD RESTAURANT ICE CREAM PARLOR PUB ### RETAIL STORES ANTIQUES SHOP BAZAAR BOOKSTORE CONVENIENCE STORE FLOWER SHOP GROCERY STORE HARDWARE STORE JEWELRY STORE LIQUOR STORE PAWN SHOP PET STORE PSYCHIC’S SHOP SHOPPING MALL THRIFT STORE USED CAR DEALERSHIP ### SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND ART VENUES AMUSEMENT PARK ART GALLERY ART STUDIO BALLROOM BLACK-TIE EVENT BOWLING ALLEY CARNIVAL FUNHOUSE CASINO CIRCUS GOLF COURSE GREEN ROOM INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE MOVIE THEATER MUSEUM NIGHTCLUB OUTDOOR POOL OUTDOOR SKATING RINK PARADE PERFORMING ARTS THEATER POOL HALL RACETRACK (HORSES) REC CENTER RECORDING STUDIO ROCK CONCERT SKATE PARK SKI RESORT SPORTING EVENT STANDS VEGAS STAGE SHOW WATER PARK ZOO ### TRANSPORTATION AIRPLANE AIRPORT AMBULANCE CITY BUS CRUISE SHIP FISHING BOAT LIMOUSINE MARINA MILITARY HELICOPTER OLD PICK-UP TRUCK POLICE CAR SUBMARINE SUBWAY TRAIN SUBWAY TUNNEL TANK TAXI TRAIN STATION TRUCK STOP YACHT --- # The Fear Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to What Holds Characters Back ### Survival Fears Being Hunted or Pursued Being Physically Attacked Death Physical Pain ### Stability and Control Fears Being Forced Into a Predetermined Fate Being Powerless Being Returned to an Abusive Environment Being Unsafe Being Watched Certain Emotions Certain Kinds of People Change Government Losing Autonomy Losing Financial Security Losing One’s Sanity Not Being in Control One’s Body Becoming a Prison One’s Genetics Persecution Running Out of a Critical Resource The Future The Past Being Discovered The Unknown ### Relationship Fears A Loved One Dying Abandonment Being a Burden to Others Being Separated from Loved Ones Being Taken Advantage Of Being Taken for Granted Betrayal Conditional Love Conflict Emotional Vulnerability Heartbreak Infidelity Loneliness Never Finding Love Not Fitting In Physical Isolation Rejection Relationship Commitment Repeating a Cycle of Abuse Trusting Others ### Identity Fears Becoming a Parent Becoming What One Hates Being Capable of Harm Being Judged Being Labeled Being Pitied Being Responsible for Others Being Viewed as Weak Criticism Discrimination Failure Growing Old Growing Up Humiliation Inadequacy Leading Letting People Down Losing One’s Heritage or Cultural Identity Losing One’s Social Standing Losing the Respect of Others Making the Wrong Decision Mediocrity Not Being Believed Not Being Enough Putting Oneself Out There Success ### Existential and Moral Fears Being Disappointed Being Still Being Unable to Achieve a Dream Being Wrong About Something Important Discovering an Uncomfortable Truth Divine Retribution Extinction Having No Purpose Leaving No Legacy Missing Out Never Finding Happiness Regret