emotional
Americanadjective
-
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
-
appealing to the emotions.
an emotional request for contributions.
-
showing or revealing very strong emotions.
an emotional scene in a play.
-
actuated, effected, or determined by emotion rather than reason.
An emotional decision is often a wrong decision.
-
governed by emotion.
He is in a highly emotional state of mind.
adjective
-
of, characteristic of, or expressive of emotion
-
readily or excessively affected by emotion
-
appealing to or arousing emotion
an emotional piece of music
-
caused, determined, or actuated by emotion rather than reason
an emotional argument
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
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.
The exploits of the bizarre animated characters, including "Strawberina" and a buff open-shirt "Bananito", parody reality TV tropes, from love triangles to emotional re-couplings.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
The “Pose” star said the emotional ordeal has been mind-altering.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood said it had been a "privilege and honour" to have been welcomed into viewers' homes for 28 years, as she bade an emotional farewell to BBC Breakfast.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
Like George, Bertino said he lacked the emotional maturity to look past his partners’ faults.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
Children’s expression of emotional meaning in music through expressive body movement.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
