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Synonyms

emotional

American  
[ih-moh-shuh-nl] / ɪˈmoʊ ʃə nl /

adjective

  1. pertaining to or involving emotion or the emotions.

  2. 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
  3. appealing to the emotions.

    an emotional request for contributions.

  4. showing or revealing very strong emotions.

    an emotional scene in a play.

  5. actuated, effected, or determined by emotion rather than reason.

    An emotional decision is often a wrong decision.

  6. governed by emotion.

    He is in a highly emotional state of mind.


emotional British  
/ ɪˈməʊʃənəl /

adjective

  1. of, characteristic of, or expressive of emotion

  2. readily or excessively affected by emotion

  3. appealing to or arousing emotion

    an emotional piece of music

  4. caused, determined, or actuated by emotion rather than reason

    an emotional argument

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

First recorded in 1840–50; emotion + -al 1

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.

What united attendees wasn’t emotional validation—it was civic responsibility.

From The Wall Street Journal

Last night's defeat drew swift and emotional reactions across Italian politics and society.

From BBC

The emotional combustion of his climactic scenes with Willy fail to reach cathartic levels.

From Los Angeles Times

An autistic person’s tone of voice or emotional affect may sound to a non-autistic person as if it doesn’t match the situation’s gravity.

From Los Angeles Times

Like George, Bertino said he lacked the emotional maturity to look past his partners’ faults.

From The Wall Street Journal