emotional

adjective

emo·​tion·​al i-ˈmō-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce emotional (audio)
Synonyms of emotional
1
: of or relating to emotion
an emotional disorder
2
: dominated by or prone to emotion
an emotional person
3
: appealing to or arousing emotion
an emotional sermon
4
: markedly aroused or agitated in feeling or sensibilities
gets emotional at weddings
emotionally
i-ˈmō-sh(ə-)nə-lē How to pronounce emotional (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of emotional

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Examples of emotional in a Sentence

He's a very emotional person. worship at revival meetings often takes a markedly emotional form
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In film scores, its low tones helped create suspense, grandeur, danger, or emotional weight. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026 How does that messy, emotional person do something so clinical? — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026 So who could this songwriter with the emotional on-off switch of a Vampire Diaries vamp be? — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 July 2026 But if that emotional architecture sometimes feels sturdier than the screenplay supporting it, the visual storytelling almost never does. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for emotional

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of emotional was in 1834

Phrases Containing emotional

Rhymes for emotional

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Browse Nearby Words

emotionable
emotional
emotional blackmail
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Cite this Entry

“Emotional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emotional. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

emotional

adjective
emo·​tion·​al i-ˈmō-shnəl How to pronounce emotional (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to the emotions
an emotional upset
2
: likely to show or express emotion : easily moved
an emotional person
3
: causing one to feel emotion
an emotional speech
emotionally
-ē How to pronounce emotional (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on emotional

Nglish: Translation of emotional for Spanish Speakers

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