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

Derived Forms

• eˈmotiveness, noun
• eˈmotively, adverb

Other Words From

• e·motive·ly adverb
• e·motive·ness e·mo·tiv·i·ty [ee-moh-, tiv, -i-tee, ih-moh-], noun
• hyper·e·motive adjective
• hyper·e·motive·ly adverb
• hyper·e·motive·ness noun
• hyper·emo·tivi·ty noun
• none·motive adjective
• none·motive·ly adverb
• none·motive·ness noun
• une·motive adjective
• une·motive·ly adverb
• une·motive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of emotive¹

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

Example Sentences

The language is unashamedly emotive and prayer-like, extolling the virtues of love, and similar in tone to the princess's video message when she revealed that her chemotherapy had ended.

From BBC

This issue has become so emotive because people on both sides see it as a threat to their very identity.

From BBC

Firstly, inheritance tax, perhaps like no other tax, has an outsized emotive tug on so, so many people - in fact a far greater number of people than are ever likely to end up paying it.

From BBC

He adds that migration is an "emotive and complicated issue", but the UK and other Western nations should avoid "cherry-picking the best and corroding African states from being successful themselves".

From BBC

"Watching what he got back from helping an animal who needed it was incredibly emotive and touching," she said.

From BBC