emotionally charged

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Full of strong feeling, so that people are likely to react angrily, sadly or passionately.

   Grammar: Can be used before a noun or after be: an emotionally charged debate, or the debate was emotionally charged.

   Patterns

   • an emotionally charged issue
   • be emotionally charged

   The meeting was emotionally charged, and several people left in tears.

   Immigration is an emotionally charged issue in many countries.

   She chose her words carefully because the topic was emotionally charged.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Describing a word, image or event that stirs deep feelings in people because of what it makes them recall or imagine.

   Grammar: Often comes before nouns such as language, image or speech.

   Patterns

   • emotionally charged language
   • an emotionally charged image

   The film uses emotionally charged images of home to win sympathy.

   Politicians often use emotionally charged language to rally supporters.

   His emotionally charged speech brought the crowd to its feet.

Word forms

Common combinations

emotionally charged atmosphere

The courtroom had an emotionally charged atmosphere.

emotionally charged debate

It was an emotionally charged debate about school closures.

emotionally charged subject

Money is an emotionally charged subject in many families.

emotionally charged language

Avoid emotionally charged language in a formal complaint.

highly emotionally charged

The reunion was a highly emotionally charged moment.

Synonyms and how they differ

heated

Heated stresses anger and argument, while emotionally charged can include sadness, joy or tension.

intense

Intense simply means very strong and does not say that the feeling is emotional.

touchy

Touchy describes a subject or person who is easily offended, which is narrower than emotionally charged.

fraught

Fraught suggests anxiety or trouble in a situation, whereas emotionally charged is neutral about the type of feeling.

Opposites

Word family

emotion noun

a strong feeling such as joy or anger

emotional adjective

relating to feelings, or showing them openly

emotionally adverb

in a way connected with feelings

unemotional adjective

not showing feelings

Commonly confused: emotionally charged or emotional?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “emotionally charged”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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