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Definition of emotional

emotional

/ɪˈmoʊ.ʃən.əl/
e · mo · tion · al
Adverb:emotionally
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emotional Lexical Profile

emotional Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to a person's emotions or internal feelings.

Example

"The counselor provided steady emotional support to the students throughout the difficult semester."

2

Having feelings that are easily excited and openly displayed.

Example

"He grew quite emotional while delivering his farewell speech to the retiring faculty members."

3

Arousing or characterized by intense feeling.

Example

"The documentary concluded with an emotional reunion between the siblings after thirty years apart."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for emotional
Antonyms
View all antonyms for emotional

Word Nuance & Usage

'Emotional' is often confused with 'emotive'. While 'emotional' describes a person's internal feelings or tendency to express strong emotions, 'emotive' specifically refers to an issue, topic, or language that arouses intense feelings in others.

• Rhymes for emotional

• Nearby Words

emote
emoticon
emotion
emotional
emotionality
emotionalize
emotionally

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century from 'emotion' plus the suffix '-al', ultimately tracing back to the French 'émotion' and the Latin verb 'emovere', meaning 'to stir up' or 'to move out'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Emotional. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/emotional
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