Skip to main content
heated

heated

4.2
A discussion full of strong feelings and anger
  • adjective
  • /ˈhiːtɪd/
translation icon : calentado
  • Their arguments over the game became heated when they disagreed on the referee's call.

There were moments of like heated eye contact or like.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • They were thinkers and tinkerers and had sometimes heated but usually respectful arguments.

  • OK, that got real heated real fast.

  • OK, OK, things are getting heated and it's not just because of the hot sauce.

  • I mean, you've seen couples in, like, heated situations in public.

  • But you've probably gotten some some heated exchanges about moral issues.

  • Yesterday we listened to Nancy Pelosi get heated with CNN.

  • Mike: WELL, ASIDE FROM THE HEATED COMMENTS OF A VERY VOCAL MINORITY, IT'S BEEN AN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

  • The debate quickly became heated as the participants expressed their strong opinions.

  • During the meeting, there were heated discussions about the future of the project.

Synonyms

fiery
vsheated
64 3.5

Full of strong, often angry feelings

is similar but applies more to sustained argument or debate intensity
angry
vsheated
33 5.3

Like violent weather with dark clouds and high waves

describes emotions in people and discussions rather than natural forces
warm
vsheated
27 2.8

Showing strong feelings that appear quickly

is stronger and more vehement, often involving anger or sharp debate
furious
vsheated
22 5.1

Very violent and dangerous, like a storm or strong wind

shares intensity but is less about human argument and more forceful imagery
feverish
vsheated
9 3.8

Full of strong excitement and hurried activity

is focused more on emotional argument and anger rather than general activity
fevered
vsheated
7 5.3

Excited and hurried because of strong feelings

is the same emotional intensity but used for argumentative situations specifically
red-hot
vsheated
3 4.0

Full of strong feeling or interest

leans toward angry or vehement emotion rather than positive enthusiasm
white-hot
vsheated
3 5.8

Very strong feeling or energy that shows great passion and draws attention

is intense too but fits angry or vehement discussions rather than spectacle
flaming
vsheated
4.8

Showing very strong feeling, often suddenly

is more about sustained angry exchange rather than brief explosive feeling

Antonyms

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

Compounds

12 3.5

An argument with strong feelings and different opinions

9 1.7

Made warm or hot by cooking, for example in a microwave

A strong angry disagreement between people with loud voices

An argument where people speak loudly and with strong feelings

A short time when people feel strong emotion and say or do things without thinking

How Heated

explosive
233 4.6
vehement
  • Formal
11 7.7
heated
4.2
tense
310 3.6
calm
735 1.0

Surface Forms

heated positive

Morphology

heated = heat (semi-transparent) = heat + ed

The transformation from 'heat' to 'heated' is clear, but the metaphorical extension to describe intense emotions or situations is not immediately obvious.

Etymology

Heated comes from the word heat, which means 'warmth' or 'high temperature'. So a heated discussion is one where feelings 'rise' and become strong, just like the temperature rises and makes things hot.