emphatic

[ em-fat-ik ]

adjective

1. uttered, or to be uttered, with emphasis; strongly expressive.
2. using emphasis in speech or action.
3. forceful; insistent:

   a big, emphatic man; I must be emphatic about this particular.

   Synonyms: definite, unequivocal, decided, pronounced, forcible, energetic, positive

   Antonyms: weak

4. very impressive or significant; strongly marked; striking:

   the emphatic beauty of sunset.

5. clearly or boldly outlined:

   It stands, like a great, stone dagger, emphatic against the sky.

6. Grammar. of or relating to a form used to add emphasis, especially, in English, stressed auxiliary do in affirmative statements, as in He did call you or I do like it.
7. Phonetics. having a secondary velar articulation, as certain dental consonants in Arabic.

noun

1. an emphatic consonant.

emphatic

/ ɪmˈfætɪk /

adjective

1. expressed, spoken, or done with emphasis
2. forceful and positive; definite; direct

   an emphatic personality

3. sharp or clear in form, contour, or outline
4. important or significant; stressed

   the emphatic points in an argument

5. phonetics denoting certain dental consonants of Arabic that are pronounced with accompanying pharyngeal constriction

noun

1. phonetics an emphatic consonant, as used in Arabic

Other Words From

• em·phati·cal·ly adverb
• em·phati·cal·ness noun
• unem·phatic adjective
• unem·phati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of emphatic¹

1700–10; < Greek emphatikós indicative, forceful, equivalent to *emphat ( ós ) ( em- em- ² + phatós, variant of phantós visible, equivalent to phan-, stem of phaínesthai to appear + -tos adj. suffix) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of emphatic¹

C18: from Greek emphatikos expressive, forceful, from emphainein to exhibit, display, from phainein to show

Example Sentences

“None of you here are going to convince me that this is a good idea,” said Hahn, before casting her vote against the purchase with an emphatic “hell no.”

From Los Angeles Times

A win is a win, but neither endorsement was emphatic.

From BBC

The final game of England's autumn series is likely to offer a chance for some fringe players after an emphatic 52-17 win over Japan's Brave Blossoms in June showed the difference in class.

From BBC

It was an observation validated in emphatic fashion by Palmer's brilliant ball to Neto.

From BBC

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was emphatic: “Our strike will be lethal, precise and above all, surprising. They won’t understand what happened and how. They will see the results.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assertive
• categorical
• confident
• definite
• definitive
• energetic
• explicit
• forceful
• impressive
• pronounced
• resounding
• sober
• sure
• telling
• unmistakable
• vigorous