emotional

adjective

i-ˈmō-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce emotional (audio)
Definition of emotionalnext
1
as in passionate
having or expressing great depth of feeling worship at revival meetings often takes a markedly emotional form

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impressive
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies in one emotional scene in the movie the boy must say goodbye to his extraterrestrial friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in affectionate
showing feeling freely the fact that he is not a very emotional person does not mean that he is not a loving, caring father

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of emotional Anderson Cooper has explored the process of grief for more than four years on his emotional podcast All There Is With Anderson Cooper. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026 The singer appeared in a flowing white dress onstage to sing the night’s emotional, final tribute. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026 Kuryla, who started the business in her home in 2005, announced the news in an emotional video on the brand’s Instagram account. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 Arlington officials cited similar scheduling obstacles for a one-hour recess, though students there receive 10-15 minutes of social-emotional learning daily. — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emotional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emotional
  1. passionate
  2. impressive
  3. affectionate
  4. passional
  5. excitable
  6. loving
  7. warm
  8. exciting
Adjective
  • The colors are dour and muted, and the yearnings of the two elder Dashwood sisters—the self-abnegating Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and the passionate Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles, a gimlet-eyed standout)—often play out in drearily candlelit rooms.
    — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Bulgari staff is notably passionate about this garden and volunteers there on a regular basis.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of passionate
Adjective
  • Larsson recorded 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists while posting an impressive plus/minus of plus 12 in 31 minutes off the bench.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • For a lot of people this spring, the question is no longer how to make the yard look impressive.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of impressive
Adjective
  • Other people shared their own experiences with romantic interactions and affectionate responses, showing how some individuals are choosing to use the technology.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • All of the Slow Horses (a not-so-affectionate nickname for Slough House employees), past and present, are targeted, and Sid goes to River for help.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of affectionate
Adjective
  • At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
Definition of passional
Adjective
  • Kalind, the younger brother of a bonobo named Kevin, was the more excitable and playful of the two.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Deanna is a proud mother of three and an excitable introvert.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of excitable
Adjective
  • In the series premiere, television personality and bestselling author Amanda Kloots opens up about grief, happiness and loving after loss.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The child studying English was met with loving lament, while the one pursuing computer science at Stanford University was the flag post of family pride.
    — Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of loving
Adjective
  • Grab a pretty blouse and snappy loafers to wear for brunch dates on warmer autumn days, then pair them with a denim jacket and slouchy knee-high boots as the weather gets cooler.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The week will start dry and warmer than normal, but rain chances return Tuesday and could dampen Halloween spirits, with a 40% chance of rain Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of warm
Adjective
  • Perhaps less exciting is the fact her failures are more than just the flawed Edison machine.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The radio series takes in interviews with academic hormone specialists, including the team at Imperial College in London who are conducting some of the most exciting and innovative research in this area.
    — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of exciting

Browse Nearby Words

emotion
emotional
emotionalism
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Cite this Entry

“Emotional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emotional. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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