heated

[hee-tid]

adjective

1. made hot or hotter; warmed.

2. excited; inflamed; vehement.

   a heated discussion.

   Synonyms: fierce, impassioned, passionate

heated

/ ˈhiːtɪd /

adjective

1. made hot; warmed

2. impassioned or highly emotional

Other Word Forms

• heatedly adverb
• heatedness noun
• unheated adjective
• well-heated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heated¹

First recorded in 1585–95; heat + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The history of human rights and human dignity is a site of heated controversy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There is nothing subtle here, and even readers inclined to agree with Mr. Smith may cringe at his heated prose.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“All summer, there had been fewer cars on the road in Southern California, and everyone remarked on how with no smog, the sunsets weren’t deep, heated crimson. Just quiet slipping into darkness.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was even raised in a heated parliamentary debate this week.

Read more on Barron's

Here are some of the most heated exchanges.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• acrimonious 
• bitter 
• feverish 
• fierce 
• fiery 
• frenzied 
• furious 
• hectic 
• impassioned 
• intense 
• passionate 
• stormy 
• tempestuous 
• vehement 
• violent