heated
Americanadjective
-
made hot or hotter; warmed.
-
excited; inflamed; vehement.
a heated discussion.
- Synonyms:
- fierce, impassioned, passionate
adjective
-
made hot; warmed
-
impassioned or highly emotional
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of heated
Explanation
Heated things are warmed up, like a heated swimming pool or a heated bowl of tomato soup. After a long walk in the snow, the warmth of a heated building feels great, although tasting a meal that's been heated in a microwave too long doesn't feel too great when it burns your tongue. When heated describes an argument, discussion, or dispute, it means "intense, passionate, or agitated." A heated debate between presidential candidates might be exactly what voters hope to see.
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.
Discussions between the parties heated up this month, some of the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
The researchers also observed occasional mushroom shaped plumes rising from the heated base of the tank.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026
Stocks slumped on Wednesday after the conflict in Iran heated up again.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
Members representing a majority of the Senedd defended the Welsh government's Nation of Sanctuary policy in a heated debate on Wednesday.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Kennedy kept the water heated to ninety degrees to soothe his ailing back.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
