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.
Their stalemate heated up this summer, when a fresh appeal seeking to undo the agreement reached the 9th Circuit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
These generational superstars have long stirred heated debate, from curious kids with jumpers for goalposts to social media cultists armed with memes and virtual binders of blistering stats.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
But when the book, which Frick won in a heated auction, became an instant bestseller, Doyle’s fame reached new heights.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Heated driveways cost anywhere from $4,800 and $15,000 to install, and an additional $50 to $300 per month in utility bills to operate, according to HeatTrak, a company that manufactures heated snow- and ice-melting mats.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
As I walked in the door, Mamá greeted me and heated dinner for me.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
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.
