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sentimentality

noun sen·ti·men·tal·i·ty \ ˌsen-tə-ˌmen-ˈta-lə-tē , -mən- \
|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of sentimentality

plural sentimentalities
1 : the quality or state of being sentimental especially to excess or in affectation
2 : a sentimental idea or its expression

See sentimentality defined for English-language learners

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Examples of sentimentality in a Sentence

  1. the sentimentality of Romantic poetry

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

Recent Examples of sentimentality from the Web

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.

First Known Use of sentimentality

1770

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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sentimentality Synonyms

Synonyms

mawkishness, mush, mushiness, sappiness, sentimentalism, sloppiness;

Near Antonyms

cynicism, hardheadedness, hard-heartedness;

Related Words

emotion;

sentiment;

corn, corniness, hokeyness (or hokiness), schmaltz (also schmalz);

SENTIMENTALITY Defined for English Language Learners

sentimentality

noun

Definition of sentimentality for English Language Learners

  • : the quality of being sentimental especially in an excessive way

Learn More about sentimentality

  1. See words that rhyme with sentimentality Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sentimentality Spanish Central: Translation of sentimentality Nglish: Translation of sentimentality for Spanish speakers

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