sentimental

adjective

sen·​ti·​men·​tal ˌsen-tə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce sentimental (audio)
Synonyms of sentimentalnext
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

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
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.
Often referred to as micro collections in the design world, these sentimental pieces can center around a specific style or period of art, an animal motif, a hobby, whimsical antiques — anything that brings the homeowner delight. Ryan Conner, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026 Days before Wynette died in 1998, Georgette said her mother had been sentimental about her ex-husband George. Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026 Taken together, these habits point to a less sentimental but more durable understanding of love. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 Take Your Time First and foremost, experts agree that organizing and decluttering family photos and other sentimental keepsakes cannot be rushed. Cori Sears, The Spruce, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentimental

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sentimental was in 1741

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Cite this Entry

“Sentimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentimental. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

sentimental

adjective
sen·​ti·​men·​tal ˌsent-ə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce sentimental (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on sentimental

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