emo
noun
ˈē-(ˌ)mō 
: 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
Robert Sullivan emo adjective
The film is sensitively directed, full of emo songs and quiet little character moments. Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Headliners range from the indie rock of Speedy Ortiz, emo-pop of Future Teens, to Cerce’s hardcore punk. Lukas Harnisch, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2022 Concert: Expect plenty of heartfelt and angry tunes as Warped Tour regulars Rise Against, pictured, and The Used team up for a celebration of ’00s punk and emo. San Antonio Express-News, 1 Aug. 2022 What transitioned me into that was the emo and scene days. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2022 This song is in the pop punk, emo and alternative rock genres. Kris Holt, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Since 2018, emo-rap has become the fastest-growing genre on Spotify, and with the genre growing in popularity on TikTok, Gen-Z is partly responsible for the speed of its rise. Brianna Holt, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2022 The comedy-centric stage will be open to all festival attendees, and every evening will be transformed into a different themed throwback dance party with nights of ’90s, emo and hip-hop music. Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 12 July 2022 Breezy Supreme is a Black alternative artist from the D.C.-Maryland area who has dabbled in noisy, nihilistic trap-rap but seems more comfortable with the scream-till-you-cry sounds of emo, punk and post-hardcore. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 7 July 2022 Petracca and Freed had previously bonded over emo and pop-punk while working in the same office building. Jessica Shalvoy, Variety, 10 June 2022 See More
Lukas Harnisch, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2022 Concert: Expect plenty of heartfelt and angry tunes as Warped Tour regulars Rise Against, pictured, and The Used team up for a celebration of ’00s punk and emo. San Antonio Express-News, 1 Aug. 2022 What transitioned me into that was the emo and scene days. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2022 This song is in the pop punk, emo and alternative rock genres. Kris Holt, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Since 2018, emo-rap has become the fastest-growing genre on Spotify, and with the genre growing in popularity on TikTok, Gen-Z is partly responsible for the speed of its rise. Brianna Holt, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2022 The comedy-centric stage will be open to all festival attendees, and every evening will be transformed into a different themed throwback dance party with nights of ’90s, emo and hip-hop music. Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 12 July 2022 Breezy Supreme is a Black alternative artist from the D.C.-Maryland area who has dabbled in noisy, nihilistic trap-rap but seems more comfortable with the scream-till-you-cry sounds of emo, punk and post-hardcore. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 7 July 2022 Petracca and Freed had previously bonded over emo and pop-punk while working in the same office building. Jessica Shalvoy, Variety, 10 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
short for emotional
First Known Use
1988, in the meaning defined above