emotional
Americanadjective
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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
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appealing to the emotions.
an emotional request for contributions.
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showing or revealing very strong emotions.
an emotional scene in a play.
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actuated, effected, or determined by emotion rather than reason.
An emotional decision is often a wrong decision.
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governed by emotion.
He is in a highly emotional state of mind.
adjective
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of, characteristic of, or expressive of emotion
-
readily or excessively affected by emotion
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appealing to or arousing emotion
an emotional piece of music
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caused, determined, or actuated by emotion rather than reason
an emotional argument
Other Word Forms
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emotionalitynoun
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emotionallyadverb
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hyperemotionaladjective
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hyperemotionallyadverb
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nonemotionaladjective
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nonemotionallyadverb
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overemotionaladjective
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overemotionallyadverb
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preemotionaladjective
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preemotionallyadverb
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pseudoemotionaladjective
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pseudoemotionallyadverb
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quasi-emotionaladjective
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quasi-emotionallyadverb
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semiemotionaladjective
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semiemotionallyadverb
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unemotionaladjective
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unemotionallyadverb
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.
Emotional spending can be volatile, faddish, and heavily driven by social media hype.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
Emotional vulnerability and believing our AI pals are conscious go hand in hand.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
At his elbow was a stack of copies of his first book, “The Myth of Aging: A Prescription for Emotional and Physical Well-Being,” which comes out Tuesday.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026
Emotional control — remaining rational when others are euphoric or fearful — is Buffett’s sharpest edge.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 29, 2025
The various Bureaux of Propaganda and the College of Emotional Engineering were housed in a single sixty-story building in Fleet Street.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
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.
