sentimentality
noun
-mən-\
Definition of sentimentality
1 : the quality or state of being sentimental especially to excess or in affectation
2 : a sentimental idea or its expression
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Synonyms for sentimentality
Synonyms
bathos, gooeyness, lovey-doveyness, mawkishness, mush, mushiness, saccharinity, sappiness, sentimentalism, sloppiness, soppiness, syrup (also sirup)
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Examples of sentimentality in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lonergan renders this problem with an unwavering gaze and no false sentimentality. — Adam Green, Vogue, "With a Bushel of New Film Roles—and a Broadway Debut—Lucas Hedges Is Learning to Love the Spotlight," 24 Sep. 2018 Sullivan fills the show with sugar-a surfeit of sweet, innocent, very hummable tunes—and then Gilbert sprinkles on lots of salt, barbed lyrics that wittily undercut Sullivan's sentimentality. — Jack Helbig, Chicago Reader, "After 139 years, Pirates of Penzance is still a satisfying combination of sweet and salty," 27 June 2018 Within months after the new building opened, that sentimentality faded. — Sam Donnellon, Philly.com, "As Philadelphia changes, Wells Fargo Center tries to change with it," 7 June 2018 Among a coterie of tiresome single women and their Bechdel Test-failing dialogue, Mabel stood out for her feisty lack of sentimentality. — Sarah Lyall, New York Times, "Far From the Shore, a Happy Couple Takes a Turn for the Worse," 11 June 2018 Jay Longino’s screenplay lards all the hoop action and comedy with troweled-on sentimentality and even a little romance — a little in this case still being too much. — Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, "In ‘Uncle Drew,’ Kyrie dribbles, Kyrie shoots, Kyrie acts," 27 June 2018 Modern capitalism, the authors suggest, selects for assertiveness, for a lack of sentimentality in business and comfort in sacking underlings, and for showy displays of economic strength. — The Economist, "Does inequality cause suicide, drug abuse and mental illness?," 14 June 2018 Murphy plays the character as a suitably humorless waif, a fair match in zealotry, dumb cunning and cat-fancying sentimentality for the swaggering Padraic. — Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Lieutenant of Inishmore': Theater Review," 5 July 2018 As anyone who tuned into the episode noticed, many young Armenians value the eloquence and sentimentality of traditional toasting but take the old-fashioned, patriarchal stuff with a grain of salt. — Benjamin Kemper, Smithsonian, "Raising a Glass to Armenia’s Elaborate Toasting Tradition," 13 July 2018These 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.
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More Definitions for sentimentality
sentimentality
noun
English Language Learners Definition of sentimentality
: the quality of being sentimental especially in an excessive way
See the full definition for sentimentality in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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