emotional
Americanadjective
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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
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appealing to the emotions.
an emotional request for contributions.
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showing or revealing very strong emotions.
an emotional scene in a play.
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actuated, effected, or determined by emotion rather than reason.
An emotional decision is often a wrong decision.
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governed by emotion.
He is in a highly emotional state of mind.
adjective
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of, characteristic of, or expressive of emotion
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readily or excessively affected by emotion
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appealing to or arousing emotion
an emotional piece of music
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caused, determined, or actuated by emotion rather than reason
an emotional argument
Other Word Forms
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emotionalitynoun
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hyperemotionaladjective
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nonemotionaladjective
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overemotionaladjective
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preemotionaladjective
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pseudoemotionaladjective
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quasi-emotionaladjective
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semiemotionaladjective
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unemotionaladjective
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emotionallyadverb
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hyperemotionallyadverb
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nonemotionallyadverb
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overemotionallyadverb
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preemotionallyadverb
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pseudoemotionallyadverb
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quasi-emotionallyadverb
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semiemotionallyadverb
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unemotionallyadverb
Etymology
Origin of emotional
Explanation
If it has anything to do with feelings like happiness or anger, then consider it emotional. A co-worker who cries at the drop of a hat is overly emotional. If someone says "Stop being so emotional!" they're telling you to calm down because your feelings are out of control. When you're emotional, you're feeling lots of feelings, or emotions: happy, sad, afraid, lonely, mad. An emotional speech makes you stand up and cheer. An emotional movie tugs on your heartstrings. The opposite of emotional is logical: logical things have more to do with your head, while emotional things are all about your heart.
Vocabulary lists containing emotional
Words to Describe a Novel or a Story
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Edge: Academic Vocabulary
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 10
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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.
But for perhaps the first time, I could feel a distinct, emotional embrace of the middle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
"It lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth," Wilson wrote, while also acknowledging that Sir Christopher 's work had sparked renewed interest in Homer's classic.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
It’s a family-friendly audiovisual spectacle, like an elaborate Fourth of July fireworks display — and with about the same level of narrative and emotional depth.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
People often think supporting someone through grief needs to be an act of emotional labor, but offering practical help is equally important.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
James Jackson actually made menacing faces at the Quakers in the gallery, called them outright lunatics, then launched into a tirade so emotional and incoherent that reporters in the audience had difficulty recording his words.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
