sentimentality
noun
sen·ti·men·tal·i·ty
ˌsen-tə-ˌmen-ˈta-lə-tē 
-mən-
plural sentimentalities
1
: the quality or state of being sentimental especially to excess or in affectation
2
: a sentimental idea or its expression
Synonyms
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
Co-directed with Jewish Israeli filmmaker Yaron Shani, the movie paints a subtle picture of a society split along fissures religious, political, cultural, and economic, without ever chiding his characters or dipping into mawkish sentimentality.
—
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2024
Vanilla is nostalgia bottled—and there are many ways to spritz on sentimentality.
—Paige Stables, Allure, 19 Sep. 2024
As Soft treads easy-listening waters, its sentimentality can work to its disadvantage.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 May 2024
This kind of tender sentimentality isn’t par for the course with Hong, a filmmaker whose essential feature template may be close to self-parody in its consistency, but allows for a fluid, ever-expanding spectrum of moods, feelings and foibles.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sentimentality 
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2024
Vanilla is nostalgia bottled—and there are many ways to spritz on sentimentality.
—Paige Stables, Allure, 19 Sep. 2024
As Soft treads easy-listening waters, its sentimentality can work to its disadvantage.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 May 2024
This kind of tender sentimentality isn’t par for the course with Hong, a filmmaker whose essential feature template may be close to self-parody in its consistency, but allows for a fluid, ever-expanding spectrum of moods, feelings and foibles.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sentimentality
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sentimentality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sentimentality
Cite this Entry
“Sentimentality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentimentality. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sentimentality
noun
sen·ti·men·tal·i·ty
ˌsent-ə-ˌmen-ˈtal-ət-ē
-mən-
plural sentimentalities
1
: the quality or state of being sentimental and especially overly sentimental
2
: a sentimental idea or its expression
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