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.
Tommy White Rated PG-13, 1 hour 37 minutes Hank, an American living in Australia, is now trying to be a gentle giant, one who’s celebrating his one-year anniversary of sobriety and who clearly suffers from lingering emotional trauma. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 We were immediately drawn to the world of this Tamil-language psychological horror, with its mystery, atmosphere, emotional depth and sustained tension. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 The singer’s niece, Lainey Mae Parton, shared an emotional tribute after her grandmother’s burial, remembering the country legend as a source of unconditional love and support. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 The mom of two concluded her caption by explaining what women need during this emotional time, offering support to anyone navigating postpartum depression. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 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 4 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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