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.
The song, famously written by Parton as an emotional farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner and his show, topped the country chart in 1974. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026 The Sun conjoins Mercury in Virgo and your 8th House of Shared Resources, Trust, Intimacy, and Mutual Support, bringing clarity to money, documents, access, care, or emotional expectations. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 Divya brings an incredible depth and emotional strength to the ensemble, and the combination of these three actors makes the world of the film particularly special. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 When pieces feel kitschy or predictable, the room loses its emotional depth. — Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 26 Aug. 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

See All Rhymes for emotional

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 1 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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