1
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
the governor issued an emphatic denial of all charges
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in noticeable
likely to attract attention
with all of the decorative fishing nets, lobster pots, and oars, the seafood restaurant's nautical theme was a little too emphatic for my taste
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of emphatic
Carlile put her emphatic phrasing into the patriotic hymn, elongating notes and smiling at herself after a slight vocal squeak at the end.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
After Gonzalez hit a last-second three to force a second OT, Williams played the rest of the way, scoring a go-ahead layup through contact and helping seal the 130-126 victory with an emphatic block.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Or colons, which are too emphatic.
—Karen Stabiner, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Nearby, Sanad Abdul Aziz, 37, was more emphatic.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for emphatic
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
After Gonzalez hit a last-second three to force a second OT, Williams played the rest of the way, scoring a go-ahead layup through contact and helping seal the 130-126 victory with an emphatic block.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Or colons, which are too emphatic.
—Karen Stabiner, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Nearby, Sanad Abdul Aziz, 37, was more emphatic.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for emphatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emphatic
Adjective
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The operation also resulted in the killing of two US citizens, the deployment of aggressive tactics by armed, masked DHS agents, and a soaring sense of trepidation permeating Minnesota’s immigrant communities.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Torres Hidalgo had been diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer in December 2024.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Over time, that constant effort can lead to noticeable eyestrain, headaches or fatigue –particularly after reading, computer work or other close-up tasks.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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Kaufman had last seen Weir in 2011, but the change was noticeable.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Benign conditions like an enlarged prostate, prostatitis (inflammation), recent ejaculation, vigorous exercise or even a long bike ride can temporarily push your PSA up.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Federal guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, with some sort of muscle-strengthening exercise on two days.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The absence that has lingered over the Boston Red Sox world for the last five weeks was especially prominent Sunday as the team held its first full-squad workout of 2026.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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Some cultural events featuring prominent Israelis since the start of the war in Gaza have been subject to anti-Israel demonstrations.—
Philissa Cramer,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Lastly, some members of the mainstream media’s reports on the violent anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis have been draped in gross mischaracterizations and gaping omissions.—
Michael Zais,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
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The president’s recent announcement of progress has been somewhat overshadowed by violent crimes making headlines daily.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The verdict closes a chapter of one of South Korea’s biggest political crises, a saga that has been full of dramatic twists that have tested the country’s democratic guardrails.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The storms that pummeled Southern California this week brought dramatic wind gusts, bursts of rain and lightning that set trees on fire, not to mention heavy snow.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Behind forceful nights from Nic Claxton, who scored a career-high 28 points, and Noah Clowney, who added 22, and with three rookies taking full advantage of their minutes, the Nets found just enough offense to beat the Chicago Bulls 123-115 at Barclays Center.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Asked about the City Hall janitor layoffs at an unrelated Tuesday news conference, Johnson pointed to the forceful demands by his City Council opponents for even steeper cuts during budget negotiations.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In an indictment Thursday, federal prosecutors said Kevin Taylor attempted to steer an $11 million contract toward the company, SaferWatch, while serving as the commanding officer of the department's School Safety Division.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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The President demoted Greg Bovino, the commanding agent in charge of the roving patrols that have besieged Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and Minneapolis.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Emphatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emphatic. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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