emotive

[ih-moh-tiv]

adjective

1. characterized by or pertaining to emotion.

   the emotive and rational capacities of humankind.

2. productive of or directed toward the emotions.

   Artistic distortion is often an emotive use of form.

emotive

/ ɪˈməʊtɪv /

adjective

1. tending or designed to arouse emotion

2. of or characterized by emotion

Usage

Emotional is preferred to emotive when describing a display of emotion: he was given an emotional (not emotive ) welcome

Other Word Forms

• emotively adverb
• emotiveness noun
• emotivity noun
• hyperemotive adjective
• hyperemotively adverb
• hyperemotiveness noun
• hyperemotivity noun
• nonemotive adjective
• nonemotively adverb
• nonemotiveness noun
• unemotive adjective
• unemotively adverb
• unemotiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of emotive¹

First recorded in 1725–35; emot(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

Her emotive alto would soon carry well beyond Brazil’s borders; the band landed a coveted gig for NPR’s Tiny Desk series in 2018.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The status of Sri Lankan Tamils is an emotive subject in the state, with different political parties promising to help resolve their citizenship concerns.

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McGovern has a reputation for tackling complicated and emotive subjects - Unforgivable is no different.

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"It is an emotive issue, especially for people living in Mumbai, and it has been so since the 1960s," he adds.

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The barrister to the inquiry Jacqueline Carey KC set out the scope of the hearings, warning this section would undoubtedly be "emotive and distressing for many people participating in, and following, these proceedings".

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