Definition of SENTIMENTALITY

Examples of sentimentality in a Sentence

the sentimentality of Romantic poetry the sentimentality of the story of star-crossed lovers only made it even more popular with moviegoers

Recent Examples on the Web Between guilt and sentimentality, many households have trouble releasing their heirloom china. — Jura Koncius, chicagotribune.com, "Fresh ideas for the family china that nobody wants," 16 Oct. 2019 Of course, sentimentality is what the restaurant aims for: Dear Inga aims to do what its name announces. — Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, "Dear Inga will take you home," 19 Dec. 2019 But Chance didn’t so much bask in sentimentality as dance right over it. — Greg Kot, chicagotribune.com, "Review: Chance the Rapper puts love songs in overdrive at United Center," 29 Sep. 2019 The potent mix of wistful nostalgia, unvarnished sentimentality and daydreamy optimism articulated the hopes and anxieties of war-weary soldiers and citizens alike. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas': The Poignant Story Behind the Enduring Holiday Classic," 22 Nov. 2019 The comedy comes from the juxtaposition of the outrageous and vulgar physicality with jarring notes of sentimentality. — Jason Zinoman, New York Times, "Make Way for the Carnal Clowns of Stand-Up," 15 Nov. 2019 The recipe for any British holiday movie, the type pioneered by merchants of sap like Richard Curtis, requires a fine balance of sentimentality and cynicism. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Last Christmas Is a Welcome Dose of Sweetness," 6 Nov. 2019 But Donoghue doesn’t just play it for laughs — or sentimentality. — Ron Charles Critic, Washington Post, "Emma Donoghue’s ‘Akin’ sends an odd couple to France," 10 Sep. 2019 The Evans manse managed to be both stately and intimate at the same time; its shelves and tables teemed with books and photographs, evidence of sentimentality and perhaps even curiosity that went beyond optionable works. — Lesley M.m. Blume, Town & Country, "The Profane Originality of Robert Evans, Hollywood's Most Unapologetic Gatsby," 2 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sentimentality.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More about sentimentality

Dictionary Entries near sentimentality

Statistics for sentimentality

Last Updated

10 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Sentimentality.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentimentality. Accessed 23 January 2020.