emotive

[ ih-moh-tiv ]

adjective

1. characterized by or pertaining to emotion:

   the emotive and rational capacities of humankind.

2. productive of or directed toward the emotions:

   Artistic distortion is often an emotive use of form.

emotive

/ ɪˈməʊtɪv /

adjective

1. tending or designed to arouse emotion
2. of or characterized by emotion

Usage

Emotional is preferred to emotive when describing a display of emotion: he was given an emotional (not emotive ) welcome

Derived Forms

• eˈmotiveness, noun
• eˈmotively, adverb

Other Words From

• e·motive·ly adverb
• e·motive·ness e·mo·tiv·i·ty [ee-moh-, tiv, -i-tee, ih-moh-], noun
• hyper·e·motive adjective
• hyper·e·motive·ly adverb
• hyper·e·motive·ness noun
• hyper·emo·tivi·ty noun
• none·motive adjective
• none·motive·ly adverb
• none·motive·ness noun
• une·motive adjective
• une·motive·ly adverb
• une·motive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of emotive¹

First recorded in 1725–35; emot(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

He adds that migration is an "emotive and complicated issue", but the UK and other Western nations should avoid "cherry-picking the best and corroding African states from being successful themselves".

From BBC

"Watching what he got back from helping an animal who needed it was incredibly emotive and touching," she said.

From BBC

Voters in Montana, Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York and South Dakota will also be asked how their state should regulate abortion, which has become one of the election's most emotive issues.

From BBC

Not that there were a lot in attendance; Gilmour aficionados tend toward the fanatical, the guitarist’s instantly recognizable tone and solos, notably the emotive psych-blues of “Comfortably Numb,” iconic.

From Los Angeles Times

He pointed in particular to "emotive" comments made to the media by police officers involved in the investigation into Letby's crimes.

From BBC