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

Still, the fandoms that are most likely to post emo lyrics or examine the most devastating lines could have a slightly inflated score. — Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Like emo in the early to mid ’00s, the genre marker has been muddied to the point of near meaninglessness. — Brendan Menapace, SPIN, 3 Aug. 2026

Country music’s emo cowgirl Megan Moroney canceled her Denver show just a few songs into her set on Tuesday. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Nia Archives has always been a candid songwriter, but the emo tilt to Junglist puts the album in direct conversation with the ’20s rock revival. — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 17 July 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