emo

noun \ ˈē-(ˌ)mō \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Definition of emo

: 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

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emo

adjective

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

Recent Examples of emo from the Web

And when it was announced that the 2018 Vans Warped Tour would be the final cross-country tour of its kind, emo kids and Hot Topic nation took notice.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Britney Spears, Tory Lanez, Kimya Dawson: Seven Concert Highlights," 7 July 2018
But on the backdrop of all these pop-punk and emo bands… Nielsen: [Frontman] Dexter [Holland] was flying in a plane from show to show.

— chris payne, Billboard, "The Summer Punk Went Pop: Oral History of the 2005 Warped Tour," 21 June 2018
Since forming in 1995 and 1999, respectively, emo-punk stalwarts Coheed and Cambria and Taking Back Sunday have shared a stage more than once.

— courtney devores, charlotteobserver, "Taking Back Sunday’s Adam Lazzara on how the band’s music is finally growing up," 11 July 2018
Known for melding hip-hop with elements of punk, emo, indie and other genres, XXXTentacion, given name Jahseh Onfroy, began recording music with friends in his bedroom and releasing it online.

— david schutz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Who is XXXTentacion, the rapper killed in Florida?," 19 June 2018
Above, Brewer shares snaps from the day, including grooving out to 2000s emo and a moment paying homage to her onscreen alter ego Janine.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "Madeline Brewer Goes Inside The Handmaid’s Tale Season 2 Premiere," 27 Apr. 2018
Their music is a melange of pop, R&B, rap, emo, punk, and indie rock, thrown together in unpredictable and unpredictably compelling ways.

— bijan stephen, GQ, "Don’t Call Post Malone a Rapper," 25 Jan. 2018
So does Brand New, the emo band who called off their tour after revelations of predatory conduct by their singer, Jesse Lacey.

— spencer kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Spotify's Lonely Stance Against Alleged Abuse," 10 May 2018
Later that evening, fans must choose between placating their inner indie sad-dad with the National (8 p.m.) or indulging their inner emo/pop-loving teen with Paramore (8:05 p.m.).

— terence cawley, BostonGlobe.com, "Too many choices at Boston Calling? Here’s some help.," 23 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'emo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.