made him upset

USAGE SUMMARY

"made him upset" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that caused a person to become emotionally distressed. For example: His harsh words made him upset and he walked away without another word.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

What made him upset wasn't the fact life was rapidly evacuating him like sand through a sieve.

Vice

Also, look out if he storms home and looks upset, and then tries to blame it on work or something that never made him upset before.

WikiHow

If this has made him upset, then this is a very serious business".

The Guardian

"I felt dishonored when the guard said," he hesitated, as if even recalling the words made him upset, " 'undo your turban.' " "I had wanted to see the president," he added, "but after that search, I thought it would have been better if I had not come".

The New York Times

He told officers "that his motivation behind that attack was that he felt Google was watching him and that made him upset," Michael Nuttall, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, wrote in the affidavit.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

When Alan becomes unusually happy after winning an internet caption competition, Joanna plans to make him upset again.

Wikipedia

He has, indeed, taken the Red Pill; while his embrace of pound shop philosophy has been liberating, it's also served to make him upset – upset enough to type and type and type until his wrists hurt.

Vice

While he's around or near you, flirt and touch other guys like on the arm, bat your eyelashes, or whatever that you know will make him upset.

WikiHow

Maybe the person is just naturally flirtatious with everyone, so he might not even understand why are you being so unfriendly to him, and that would make him upset.

WikiHow

Or like well-meaning, though dangerous, people who tell abused women," Don't make him upset and then he won't hit you.

Huffington Post

He has, indeed, taken the Red Pill; while his embrace of dime store philosophy has been liberating, it's also served to make him upset, upset enough to type and type and type until his wrists hurt.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made him upset", ensure the context clearly indicates the cause of the upset. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "made" multiple times in a single sentence or paragraph, as it can make your writing sound repetitive. For example, instead of saying "The news made him upset, which made him question his decisions", try "The news upset him, leading him to question his decisions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made him upset" functions as a causative verb phrase, indicating that an external factor caused a male individual to experience feelings of sadness, disappointment, or distress. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made him upset" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a cause-and-effect relationship where something has caused a male individual to experience negative emotions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's frequently found in News & Media and Wiki sources, reflecting its widespread use in describing events and situations that lead to emotional distress. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates the cause of the upset to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "caused him distress" or "angered him" can be used for variety. Overall, "made him upset" is a versatile and understandable phrase for conveying emotional impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caused him distress

Emphasizes the causation of emotional suffering.

disturbed his peace

Focuses on the disruption of his calmness.

aggravated him

Highlights the increase in his annoyance or irritation.

saddened him

Directly states the emotion of sadness as a result.

irritated him

Focuses on a state of annoyance.

displeased him

Highlights a lack of satisfaction.

provoked his anger

Emphasizes the incitement of anger.

angered him

Directly states the emotion of anger as a result.

left him disheartened

Indicates a loss of spirit or morale.

created unhappiness for him

More descriptive, focusing on the creation of a negative emotion.

FAQs

How can I use "made him upset" in a sentence?

You can use "made him upset" to describe something that caused someone emotional distress. For example, "The criticism really "made him upset", and he didn't want to talk about it".

What's a more formal alternative to "made him upset"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "caused him distress" or "displeased him". These alternatives offer a similar meaning but with a more sophisticated tone.

What are some less direct ways to say "made him upset"?

If you want to soften the impact, try saying "saddened him" or "left him disheartened". These phrases convey a sense of disappointment without being overly harsh.

Is there a difference between "made him upset" and "angered him"?

While both phrases describe negative emotions, "made him upset" is more general and can encompass a range of feelings from sadness to frustration. "Angered him" specifically indicates that he felt angry.