: a style of rock music influenced by punk rock and featuring introspective and emotionally fraught lyrics
In emo, the heart forever hurts, and the ultra-introspective songwriter pines for beautiful death.Robert Sullivan
emo adjective
The film is sensitively directed, full of emo songs and quiet little character moments. Kyle Smith

Examples of emo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some fans have expected new music from the group, but for the most part, very little has emerged for a long time – but followers of the emo rockers never stopped listening. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 Since its inception in 2006, Sound and Fury quickly established itself as the event for hardcore and hardcore-adjacent music (from the heavier side of emo bands like Anxious to more extreme, metal-leaning acts) first in Los Angeles and then across the country. Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025 Their smiles were ear to ear. — Damon Joy Bug Moment Summerfest finally gave Bug Moment — one of the most innovative bands from the city’s rich, emerging emo rock scene — a grand welcome July 3 with an afternoon slot at the BMO Pavilion. jsonline.com, 4 July 2025 The record, which includes renditions of all the songs on the emo lodestars’ debut, was originally made available on Bandcamp earlier this year, with proceeds going to benefit victims of the California wildfires. Walden Green, Pitchfork, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for emo

Word History

Etymology

short for emotional

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emo was in 1988

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Cite this Entry

“Emo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emo. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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