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

Early in the first quarter, James had an emphatic dunk in transition, had a chase-down block against Desmond Bane and then tipped in a putback layup during a 20-second stretch to give the Lakers an early lead. —Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 16 Dec. 2024

For a Knicks team grappling with how to match fire with fire in physical battles against grueling NBA defenses, that emphatic screen was a defining moment—a statement of intent. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 Dec. 2024

Holding onto a 103-98 lead, Antetokounmpo’s emphatic block of Hawks center Clint Capela shut the door on any potential comeback as the Bucks will now extend their business trip in Las Vegas an extra few days. —Jacob Lev, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024

The refrain, a nod to Cali street skirmishes, is simple, yet emphatic — an easily repeatable hook that could send the track to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. —Peter A. Berry, Variety, 24 Nov. 2024

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

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