emphatic

adjective

em·​phat·​ic im-ˈfa-tik 

em-

1

: uttered with or marked by emphasis

an emphatic refusal

2

: tending to express oneself in forceful speech or to take decisive action

3

: attracting special attention

4

: constituting or belonging to a set of tense forms in English consisting of the auxiliary do followed by an infinitive without to that are used to facilitate rhetorical inversion or to emphasize something

emphatically

im-ˈfa-ti-k(ə-)lē 

em-

adverb

Synonyms

• aggressive
• assertive
• dynamic
• energetic
• forceful
• full-blooded
• muscular
• resounding
• strenuous
• vehement
• vigorous
• violent

Examples of emphatic in a Sentence

They were emphatic about their political differences.

the governor issued an emphatic denial of all charges

Recent Examples on the Web

Amid Orlando’s third-quarter scoring spree, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley acknowledged Black’s efforts on defense with an emphatic high-five on the sideline. —Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2025

While the warning was emphatic — and the accounts linked to the scheme were suspended — newer meme accounts promoting Stake have continued to pop up on the site. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2025

After an emphatic dummy to send Kily Gonzalez spinning 360 degrees, Rivaldo threw his entire body into a brutal, low, daisy-annihilating shot and, thanks to his own sheer torque, left the ground and landed on his backside. —The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

The Gators’ emphatic win Sunday against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament championship game ended the debate on whether the Gators would earn a No. 1 seed. —Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Late Latin; French emphatique "forcefully expressive," going back to Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin emphaticus, borrowed from Greek emphatikós "expressive, indicative," from empha-, stem in noun derivation of emphaínein "to exhibit, display, indicate" + -t-, verbal adjective formative + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at emphasis

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for emphatic

• asthmatic
• chromatic
• climatic
• dogmatic
• dramatic
• ecstatic
• erratic
• eustatic
• fanatic
• hepatic
• lymphatic
• magmatic

Kids Definition

emphatic

adjective

em·​phat·​ic im-ˈfat-ik 

em-

1

: uttered with or marked by emphasis

2

: tending to express oneself in forceful speech or action

3

: attracting special attention

an emphatic design

emphatically

-ˈfat-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb