emotional
Americanadjective
-
subject to or easily affected by emotion.
We are an emotional family, given to demonstrations of affection.
- Synonyms:
- sentimental, demonstrative, effusive, temperamental
- Antonyms:
- inexpressive, unsentimental, undemonstrative
-
appealing to the emotions.
an emotional request for contributions.
-
showing or revealing very strong emotions.
an emotional scene in a play.
-
actuated, effected, or determined by emotion rather than reason.
An emotional decision is often a wrong decision.
-
governed by emotion.
He is in a highly emotional state of mind.
adjective
-
of, characteristic of, or expressive of emotion
-
readily or excessively affected by emotion
-
appealing to or arousing emotion
an emotional piece of music
-
caused, determined, or actuated by emotion rather than reason
an emotional argument
Other Word Forms
- emotionality noun
- emotionally adverb
- hyperemotional adjective
- hyperemotionally adverb
- nonemotional adjective
- nonemotionally adverb
- overemotional adjective
- overemotionally adverb
- preemotional adjective
- preemotionally adverb
- pseudoemotional adjective
- pseudoemotionally adverb
- quasi-emotional adjective
- quasi-emotionally adverb
- semiemotional adjective
- semiemotionally adverb
- unemotional adjective
- unemotionally adverb
Etymology
Origin of emotional
Explanation
If it has anything to do with feelings like happiness or anger, then consider it emotional. A co-worker who cries at the drop of a hat is overly emotional. If someone says "Stop being so emotional!" they're telling you to calm down because your feelings are out of control. When you're emotional, you're feeling lots of feelings, or emotions: happy, sad, afraid, lonely, mad. An emotional speech makes you stand up and cheer. An emotional movie tugs on your heartstrings. The opposite of emotional is logical: logical things have more to do with your head, while emotional things are all about your heart.
Vocabulary lists containing emotional
Words to Describe a Novel or a Story
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Edge: Academic Vocabulary
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 10
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I think I’ve come to a much more centered place after so much emotional and geographical dislocation,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
This epistemic shift has birthed a lucrative wellness industry, featuring all manner of advice, concerns, and devices, where a frightening sales pitch or emotional story takes the place of scientific consensus.
From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026
They include a range of physical, emotional and social skills, such as:
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Ye, the controversial rapper formerly known as Kanye West, faces a battery and emotional distress lawsuit amid his latest efforts to mount a comeback.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
The development of emotional responses to music in young children.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
