emo

noun

ˈē-(ˌ)mō 

: a style of rock music influenced by punk rock and featuring introspective and emotionally fraught lyrics

In emo, the heart forever hurts, and the ultra-introspective songwriter pines for beautiful death.

—Robert Sullivan

emo adjective

The film is sensitively directed, full of emo songs and quiet little character moments.

—Kyle Smith

Examples of emo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Upon its initial release, the album cemented My Chemical Romance's shift from mainstays of the emo scene to mainstream recognition, becoming one of the most inventive bands of the 21st century. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

Prelude to The End arrives on the heels of last Friday’s release of The Black Parade (20th Anniversary), the landmark rock opera by the Jersey pop-punkers that’s considered one of the most influential in the ever-evolving emo genre. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026

Explore See latest videos, charts and news The emo greats are expected to make a huge surge on the Billboard charts next week with their 2006 masterwork The Black Parade. — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2026

The spectre of Midwest emo looms large; American Football in particular casts a considerable shadow. — Nick Laskin, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for emotional

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for emo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau