sentimental

adjective

sen·​ti·​men·​tal ˌsen-tə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

1

a

: marked or governed by feeling, sensibility, or emotional idealism

b

: resulting from feeling rather than reason or thought

a sentimental attachment

a sentimental favorite

2

: having an excess of sentiment or sensibility

sentimentally adverb

Synonyms

• sloppy
• sticky
• mawkish
• schmaltzy
• maudlin
• sappy
• saccharine
• wet
• fuzzy
• soppy
• corny
• cloying
• mushy
• gooey
• sugary

Examples of sentimental in a Sentence

He has a sentimental attachment to his old high school.

She saved her wedding gown for sentimental reasons.

He has sentimental ideas about the past.

I tend to get very sentimental when I think about my childhood.

Recent Examples on the Web

When the sun journeys through sentimental Cancer, there is a greater focus on home, family and emotional stability. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 21 June 2025

Spielberg's vision is sentimental yet feels so satisfying. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 June 2025

This is Spielberg at his most pure and sensational, an undiluted cinematic experience that lacks any of his sentimental claptrap and steers clear of his tendency for multiple endings. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025

Multidisciplinary artist Derrick Adams chose the sentimental imagery to convey a celebration of and open a conversation about contemporary Black life and culture. —Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sentimental

• anti-sentimental
• sentimental value

Rhymes for sentimental

• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental
• fundamental
• governmental
• incidental
• incremental
• instrumental
• interdental
• monumental

Kids Definition

sentimental

adjective

sen·​ti·​men·​tal ˌsent-ə-ˈment-ᵊl 

1

a

: marked by feeling or sentiment

b

: resulting from feeling rather than reason or thought

2

: having an excess of sentiment or sensibility

sentimentally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb