-shən ə l, -shnəl adjective
1. : of or relating to emotion, especially to more than usual emotion: as
a. : dominated chiefly by emotion
a highly emotional condition of mind
b. : expressing more than usual emotion
emotional language used in the heat of argument
an emotional expression of friendship
c. : prone to arousal of the emotions
he is intensely emotional , is sometimes moved to tears by the pathos of his own words — Time
d. : motivated chiefly by the emotions as opposed to the intellect
an emotional act
an emotional drive
: largely lacking a rational justification
an emotional judgment
e. : appealing to or arousing the emotions
emotional art
f. : involving emotion
verbal rather than emotional acceptance of social precepts — M.S.Gurvitz
g. : having particular impact or bearing upon the emotions
the emotional shock of war
emotional security
2. : markedly aroused or agitated in feeling or sensibilities
he has been known to get emotional over a … piece of costume jewelry — Time
• emo·tion·al·ly - ə lē, -əlē, -li adverb