emphatic
Americanadjective
-
uttered, or to be uttered, with emphasis; strongly expressive.
-
using emphasis in speech or action.
-
forceful; insistent.
a big, emphatic man; I must be emphatic about this particular.
- Synonyms:
- definite, unequivocal, decided, pronounced, forcible, energetic, positive
- Antonyms:
- weak
-
very impressive or significant; strongly marked; striking.
the emphatic beauty of sunset.
-
clearly or boldly outlined.
It stands, like a great, stone dagger, emphatic against the sky.
-
Grammar. of or relating to a form used to add emphasis, especially, in English, stressed auxiliary do in affirmative statements, as in He did call you or I do like it.
-
Phonetics. having a secondary velar articulation, as certain dental consonants in Arabic.
noun
adjective
-
expressed, spoken, or done with emphasis
-
forceful and positive; definite; direct
an emphatic personality
-
sharp or clear in form, contour, or outline
-
important or significant; stressed
the emphatic points in an argument
-
phonetics denoting certain dental consonants of Arabic that are pronounced with accompanying pharyngeal constriction
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of emphatic
1700–10; < Greek emphatikós indicative, forceful, equivalent to *emphat ( ós ) ( em- em- 2 + phatós, variant of phantós visible, equivalent to phan-, stem of phaínesthai to appear + -tos adj. suffix) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Emphatic means forceful and clear. Nicole's mother was emphatic when she told her not to come home late again. When something is emphatic, it imparts emphasis. A sentence is made emphatic by adding an exclamation point, and the word carries with it the important and urgent feeling of that punctuation mark. If a baseball team defeats another by 10 runs, the victory is emphatic because like strong speech, the victory is clear and forceful.
Vocabulary lists containing emphatic
List 7
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Fine?" Vocabulary from the short story
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Emphatic wins over the Netherlands and Wales granted access to the knockout stage, before a nail-biting shootout win against Sweden and a last-gasp victory over Italy secured a final rematch against world champions Spain.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
For sale: Emphatic, stylish and streamlined Mid-century Modern home built on one acre in Richland, Michigan.
From Washington Times • May 25, 2023
Emphatic or ornate, your protest of innocence stumbles out of the gate.
From Salon • May 6, 2023
Less Emphatic Angel needs to start now if he wants to have an impact on his sister’s life.
From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021
In the Emphatic this reads, "Train thyself for piety."
From How to Live a Holy Life by Orr, Charles Ebert
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.
