emotive

emo·tive | \ i-ˈmō-tiv

How to pronounce emotive (audio)

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Definition of emotive

1 : of or relating to the emotions

2 : appealing to or expressing emotion the emotive use of language

3 chiefly British : causing strong emotions often in support of or against something … the latest proposal aimed at breaking a long-running deadlock over the emotive issue of whaling …— Tom Pfeiffer

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Examples of emotive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That's the way co-writer Ryan Hurd views the emotive ballad. — Heran Mamo, Billboard, "Here Are the Lyrics to Lady Antebellum's 'What If I Never Get Over You'," 25 Nov. 2019 While managing Lina's emotional state, smart Neo Cab players will also keep an eye on their passengers' words and faces, which are equally emotive. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Neo Cab is the dystopian gig-economy Crazy Taxi we’ve always wanted," 6 Oct. 2019 The resignations of the DA’s two most prominent black politicians ultimately reflect the party’s failure to resolve its position on the most emotive of South African issues: race. — The Economist, "South Africa’s main opposition party implodes," 24 Oct. 2019 Leadership style For all the lessons he's absorbed from Dimon, Scharf brings a less emotive, more deliberative style to leadership. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, "Wells Fargo’s New CEO Charlie Scharf Spent 25 Years Learning From Jamie Dimon—Now He’s Taking Him On," 2 Oct. 2019 The Democratic primary is an emotive contest to prove who cares the most. — Jonah Goldberg, National Review, "Like Trump, Democratic Candidates Struggle to Stay within Constitutional Boundaries," 18 Sep. 2019 That trait was greeted with animosity from many of her male contemporaries, who disparaged her readiness to share her work as unwomanly and approached her soaringly emotive poetry with suspicion. — Talya Zax, The Atlantic, "The 19th-Century Feminist Novel Pushed Out of the Russian Canon," 5 Nov. 2019 At Webster Hall, the silky singer Snoh Aalegra takes the stage with Baby Rose, whose emotive voice has drawn comparisons to that of Nina Simone (Nov. 24). — Briana Younger, The New Yorker, "Winter Night-Life Preview," 1 Nov. 2019 Expect crisp, emotive movement and luxuriant sounds. — John Wenzel, The Know, "Bust out your best cosplay for this weekend’s MileHiCon," 17 Oct. 2019

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

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Last Updated

23 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Emotive.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emotive. Accessed 19 January 2020.

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