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
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.
It’s almost a magic trick that, after his delirious first hour, Lapid has an entirely different emotional register in store.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
The exploits of the bizarre animated characters, including "Strawberina" and a buff open-shirt "Bananito", parody reality TV tropes, from love triangles to emotional re-couplings.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
It’s a medicated but functioning limbo that Peet, in one of her best roles, conveys without the slightest trace of pity but with a coursing, wryly emotional intelligence that always reveals the sadness fueling it.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood said it had been a "privilege and honour" to have been welcomed into viewers' homes for 28 years, as she bade an emotional farewell to BBC Breakfast.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
“I’ve noticed it usually happens when—well, I’m an emotional sort of fellow, and I do get carried away. I might, ah, readjust the facts slightly; purely for dramatic effect, you understand.”
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
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.
