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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.

“Those emotional bonds you have with that music stay with you forever ... It promotes the best of us and all the good things. That’s why people love it so much.”

From Los Angeles Times

I don’t doubt or take lightly the physical, mental and emotional energy it takes to be a teacher five days a week during the academic year.

From MarketWatch

It was a hard emotional transition, but the experience gave me discipline and inner strength.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 6-foot-tall right hander from Murcia is precisely the sort of raw young talent—athletic, physical, emotional—that tennis has watched flame out countless times before.

From The Wall Street Journal

Because these body maps appear to play a role in emotional understanding, they may help advance research in social psychology and clinical care.

From Science Daily