sentimentalism

noun

sen·​ti·​men·​tal·​ism ˌsen-tə-ˈmen-tə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce sentimentalism (audio)
1
: the disposition to favor or indulge in sentimentality
2
: an excessively sentimental conception or statement
sentimentalist noun

Examples of sentimentalism in a Sentence

the sentimentalism of 19th-century art the novel's sentimentalism bored me
Recent Examples on the Web In its commitment to a particular kind of sentimentalism, No Hard Feelings doesn’t fully lean into the raunchiness some might expect from its trailer or early buzz. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2023 Wilde believed that, contrary to the claims of sentimentalism and of generations of prudish literary critics, the quality of a work of art does not depend on its ethical purity—that art depicting the degraded, the depraved, or the wicked can still be beautiful. Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023 The film retains its signature tone — moving between humor and sentimentalism with a light touch — but there’s a greater effort now to connect Miles’ origin story to broader lessons about superhero canons. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 May 2023 Rather than fuzzy-wuzzy sentimentalism, that liminal space between objective reality and the netherworld is presented as a natural, if exceedingly rare, fact of life. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2023 Thus, the pathos comes off as mere sentimentalism. Robyn Bahr, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2020 Stopping just short of sentimentalism, Rosner suggests that one way to reach a happier, more settled future is to confront the past. Julia M. Klein, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023 That, too, informs the series’ pulsating sense of sentimentalism, says Brodesser-Akner. Malina Saval, Variety, 5 Mar. 2023 The industry touches on ethics and economics, environmentalism and sentimentalism, science and sensationalism, often in surprising ways. Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sentimentalism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sentimentalism was in 1817

Dictionary Entries Near sentimentalism

Cite this Entry

“Sentimentalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentimentalism. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sentimentalism

noun
sen·​ti·​men·​tal·​ism ˌsent-ə-ˈment-ᵊl-ˌiz-əm How to pronounce sentimentalism (audio)
1
: a tendency to be sentimental
2
: an overly sentimental idea or statement
sentimentalist noun
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