emotion Definition
emo·tion (ē mō′s̸hən, i-)
noun
- strong feeling; excitement
- a state of consciousness having to do with the arousal of feelings, distinguished from other mental states, as cognition, volition, and awareness of physical sensation
- any specific feeling; any of various complex reactions with both mental and physical manifestations, as love, hate, fear, anger, etc.
Etymology: Fr (prob. after motion) < émouvoir, to agitate, stir up < VL *exmovere, for L emovere < e-, out + movere, move
emotion Related Forms
emotion Synonyms
emotion
n.
Emotions include: love, passion, infatuation, rapture, ecstasy, fire, warmth, affection, glow, fury, vehemence, fervor, ardor, zeal, thrill, elation, flutter, palpitation, joy, satisfaction, happiness, delight, glee, bliss, elation, inspiration, sympathy, empathy, tenderness, concern, grief, remorse, sorrow, sadness, melancholy, despondency, woe, anguish, misery, despair, depression, trepidation, worry, discomposure, disquiet, uneasiness, dread, fear, apprehension, hate, resentment, malice, contempt, animosity, conflict, jealousy, greed, covetousness, cupidity, anger, rage, ire, shame, pride, prurience, concupiscence, sensuality, lust, desire, lechery, pathos, bathos. See syn. study at feeling.feeling.
emotion Usage Examples
Converse of object
- evoke: I began to suspect that certain sounds evoked certain emotions, like the Baptist hymns.
- arouse: Many are said to have died from the emotion thus aroused.
- convey: The main idea is to convey the emotions that the couple feel for each other.
- stir: Graham, the more deliberately judicial for the stirring emotions he felt, asked if there had been any fighting.
- express: Can you think of a better way to express these emotions than through flowers?
- suppress: Now, the son would have to deal with a lot of suppressed emotions regarding how he felt toward his father.
Converse of subject
overwhelm: Oh my, as usual, overwhelmed by emotions while thinking about HIM!
Adjective modifier
- conflicting: Caris is a real rebel, with all the conflicting emotions of adolescence.
- negative: In some ways, the negative emotions fuelled my creativity.
- mixed: Subsequently the mixed emotions that arise from such an event.. .
- raw: Performances are very strong, especially in scenes of raw emotion or hidden ferocity.
- intense: Don't feel embarrassed about crying as it helps when you release these intense emotions.
- pent-up: Reading my diary entries and letters and looking at photos had been a catalyst for all the pent-up emotions inside me.
Modifies a noun
- recognition: Trait emotional intelligence: Behavioral validation in two studies of emotion recognition and reactivity to mood induction.
- processing: Evidence of localized brain changes with age indicates that there are age-related changes in two brain areas known to be important in emotion processing.
- perception: A large and very varied brain circuitry subserves emotion perception and emotion regulation.
Noun used with modifier
tender: Accordingly, the lyrics were concerned with expressing affection and exploring more tender emotions.
Preposition: of
- fear: Once imprinting has occurred in the adult, then the two emotions of fear and excitement begin to generate the drama of obsession.
- character: Firstly the character animations have been upgraded to better convey the emotions of the characters, particularly when it comes to relationships.
Preposition: like
anger: You will also need to release various emotions like anger and hurt that you have experienced and possibly suppressed from " bad " relationships.
Browse dictionary entries near emotion
- emotional ›
- emotional distress ›
- emotionalism ›
- emotionalist ›
- emotionality ›
- emotionalize ›
- emotive ›
- Emp ›
- empale ›
- empanada ›

