emotive

adjective

emo·​tive i-ˈmō-tiv 

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

emotively adverb

emotivity

i-ˌmō-ˈti-və-tē 

ˌē-ˌmō-

noun

Examples of emotive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Spaniard tried to prepare his players for a crunch game at Anfield by playing You’ll Never Walk Alone, the emotive track that greets the Liverpool players onto the pitch before games, to help ready them for the atmosphere. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

What remains, however, is the builders’ deliberation in constructing emotive and sensory experience. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Wong acknowledged the sensitivity in a speech in parliament, saying political salaries were a difficult and emotive topic. — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

Newsrooms have been told to not use emotive terminology when describing Palestinian victims. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for emotive

• promotive
• automotive
• locomotive
• electromotive
• motive
• votive