When you want to write the emotion pride, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid emotional tells and immerse your readers in your story.

Pride is an emotion that arises from a sense of self-respect and self-esteem, often based on achievements or personal qualities. It is a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment in oneself, one's abilities, or one's accomplishments. Pride can be positive, motivating, and empowering, but it can also lead to arrogance and overconfidence if not balanced with humility and self-awareness.

Different Types of Pride

Here are some different types of pride:

• Arrogance
• Hubris
• Vanity
• Conceit
• Self-importance
• Egotism
• Narcissism
• Haughtiness
• Snobbery
• Superiority
• Self-satisfaction
• Self-esteem
• Dignity

Situations Associated with Pride

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of pride:

• Achieving a significant personal or professional accomplishment
• Receiving recognition or praise from others
• Being part of a successful team or group
• Displaying superior knowledge, skills or abilities
• Overcoming adversity or challenges
• Being associated with a prestigious or respected institution or group
• Having a strong sense of identity or cultural heritage
• Feeling superior to others based on wealth, status or social class

Physical Reactions to Pride

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing pride might have:

• Standing tall with a straight posture and lifted chin
• Smiling confidently
• Making direct eye contact with others
• Speaking in a clear and assertive tone
• Displaying an air of self-assuredness and self-importance
• Dressing in a way that showcases accomplishments or status
• Gesturing with expansive movements, such as spreading arms wide or placing hands on hips
• Bragging or boasting about achievements or abilities
• Refusing help or assistance, insisting on doing things independently
• Seeking out recognition or admiration from others

Thoughts Associated with Pride

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing pride might have:

• I did it! I'm amazing!
• I'm better than everyone else.
• I deserve this recognition.
• I can't wait to tell everyone about my accomplishment.
• I'm proud of myself and my hard work.
• I'm confident in my abilities and talents.
• Others should look up to me and learn from my example.
• I feel a sense of superiority over those who are less accomplished.

Atmosphere of Pride

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of pride in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use grand or majestic settings, such as a castle, palace, or grand ballroom, to evoke a sense of pride and grandeur.
• Include symbols of power and achievement, such as trophies, medals, or awards, to suggest that characters have accomplished something and are proud of it.
• Use warm and bright colors, like gold or yellow, to create an uplifting and positive atmosphere that suggests pride and happiness.
• Use confident and assertive language in dialogue, such as characters using "I" statements to express their opinions and beliefs.
• Have characters interact with others in a way that suggests they feel superior or have accomplished something noteworthy.
• Show characters standing tall, with their heads held high, to convey a sense of confidence and pride.
• Have characters speak with conviction and passion about their beliefs or accomplishments.

Verbs Associated with Pride

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of pride:

• Boasting
• Celebrating
• Glowing
• Honoring
• Praising
• Preening
• Swaggering
• Triumphing
• Valuing

Emotions Before Pride

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences pride:

• Accomplishment
• Confidence
• Satisfaction
• Joy
• Excitement
• Gratitude
• Relief
• Appreciation
• Self-esteem

Emotions After Pride

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences pride:

• Guilt
• Shame
• Embarrassment
• Humiliation
• Regret
• Disappointment
• Envy
• Resentment
• Arrogance

Telling Pride Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion pride in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• He felt proud of himself for finishing the marathon.
• She was proud of her son for winning the spelling bee.
• He couldn't help but feel proud of his new car.
• She was filled with pride when she saw her painting hanging in the gallery.
• He was proud of his accomplishments and wanted everyone to know it.
• She felt a sense of pride as she looked at her perfectly manicured lawn.
• He was proud to have been chosen as the captain of the team.
• She felt a swell of pride when she saw her name on the cover of the book.
• He was proud to have earned his degree after years of hard work.

Practical Examples of Showing Pride

Here are some examples of showing pride in a sentence:

• She grinned as she looked at the trophy she had won, admiring the shiny surface and the engraved words that declared her victory.
• He straightened his shoulders and walked with a confident gait, feeling proud of his achievements.
• She couldn't help but smile as she listened to the applause of the audience, knowing that her performance had been outstanding.
• He lifted his chin and met the gaze of the skeptical critic, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he defended his work.

Exercises for Showing Pride

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing pride:

• Create a character who has just accomplished a major achievement and is feeling proud of themselves. Write a scene where they reflect on their success and how it makes them feel.
• Write a scene where a character receives recognition or praise from others, causing them to feel proud. How do they react? Do they feel humble or do they bask in the attention?
• Consider a situation where a character's pride is challenged or threatened. How do they react? Do they become defensive or do they handle the situation with grace?
• Write a scene where a character's pride leads them to make a mistake or act impulsively. How does this impact their relationships or the plot of the story?

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full thesaurus of emotions.