emotional

[ih-moh-shuh-nl]

adjective

1. pertaining to or involving emotion or the emotions.

2. 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

3. appealing to the emotions.

   an emotional request for contributions.

4. showing or revealing very strong emotions.

   an emotional scene in a play.

5. actuated, effected, or determined by emotion rather than reason.

   An emotional decision is often a wrong decision.

6. governed by emotion.

   He is in a highly emotional state of mind.

emotional

/ ɪˈməʊʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or expressive of emotion

2. readily or excessively affected by emotion

3. appealing to or arousing emotion

   an emotional piece of music

4. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of emotional¹

First recorded in 1840–50; emotion + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Though O’Brien is flexing his emotional range here, his hunky sincerity lands in part because Sweeney remains steady in the opposite registry.

From Los Angeles Times

Holland, on the heels of his stellar turn in the underappreciated character study “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” can make you forget how little we know of Roger’s background, so magnetic is his prickly, awkward emotional confusion.

From Los Angeles Times

That loss in 1977 saw a period of intense emotional turmoil.

From BBC

Many of the emotional scenes Jones had opposite Pelphrey were filmed in just a few days.

From Los Angeles Times

He says the character’s “emotional intelligence seemed to get less and less” during some seasons of the show, and he recalls confronting Fellowes about Robert’s inability to be kind to Mary after Matthew’s death.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affecting 
• exciting 
• heated 
• hysterical 
• impassioned 
• moving 
• nervous 
• passionate 
• poignant 
• sensitive 
• sentimental 
• spontaneous 
• touching