What does "emotional" mean?

1. (relating to feelings) relating to your feelings or the way you feel inside. 2. (showing strong feelings) showing strong feelings, especially by crying or being very upset. 3. (not logical) based on feelings rather than on facts or clear thinking. 4. (an emotional person) a person who is very sensitive or shows their feelings a lot.

emotional — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01relating to feelings

B1 · Intermediate

adj. relating to your feelings or the way you feel inside.

adj. pertaining to the emotions or the affective state of an individual.

“Moving to a new country can be a difficult emotional experience.”

“The therapist focused on the patient's emotional well-being rather than just addressing the physical symptoms of stress.”

Synonyms

affective psychological

Antonyms

physical intellectual

02showing strong feelings

B1 · Intermediate

adj. showing strong feelings, especially by crying or being very upset.

adj. readily displaying or affected by intense emotion; often used to describe a person who is easily moved to tears.

“He became very emotional when he talked about his late grandfather.”

“The award ceremony was an emotional occasion, with several winners struggling to finish their speeches through tears of joy.”

Synonyms

passionate sentimental moved

Antonyms

stoicunemotionalcold

03not logical

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. based on feelings rather than on facts or clear thinking.

adj. actuated or dominated by emotion rather than reason or logic.

“It was an emotional decision, but she knew it wasn't the most practical one.”

“The debate shifted from a technical analysis of the budget to a highly emotional argument about social values.”

Synonyms

irrational instinctive

Antonyms

logical rational analytical

04an emotional person

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Informal

n. a person who is very sensitive or shows their feelings a lot.

n. a person characterized by strong or easily expressed emotions.

“She has always been an emotional, reacting to every small change in the weather.”

“The author categorises his characters into 'logicals' and 'emotionals' to highlight the friction in their decision-making processes.”

Usage

This noun use is rare and typically found in psychological or informal contexts.

Synonyms

sensitive

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “emotional” in context.

Adjective

01. emotional arousal

“High levels of emotional arousal can sometimes interfere with clear decision-making.”

adj + noun

02. emotional component

“There is a strong emotional component to the way we remember our childhood homes.”

adj + noun

03. emotional distress

“The victim was awarded compensation for the emotional distress caused by the accident.”

adj + noun

04. emotional disturbance

“The doctor noted that the patient was suffering from a minor emotional disturbance.”

adj + noun

05. emotional experience

“Watching the sunset over the mountains was a deeply emotional experience for her.”

adj + noun

06. emotional expression

“Art provides a healthy outlet for emotional expression when words are not enough.”

adj + noun

07. emotional reaction

“His sudden emotional reaction to the news surprised everyone in the room.”

adj + noun

08. emotional response

“The film aims to trigger a powerful emotional response from the audience.”

adj + noun

09. emotional state

“It is difficult to make rational choices when you are in a heightened emotional state.”

adj + noun

10. emotional regulation

11. emotional lives

12. emotional distribution

“Beyond being taught at school about periods and my mum explaining PMT, the impact of hormones on our emotional lives wasn’t discussed much when I was younger.”

The Guardian 12 Aug 2026

“This opens up the ground for conflict or bonding between them, and there is some of this, but it feels too slight: not quite emotional or dramatic enough.”

The Guardian 14 Aug 2026