sentimentalize

verb

sen·​ti·​men·​tal·​ize ˌsen-tə-ˈmen-tə-ˌlīz 

sentimentalized; sentimentalizing

intransitive verb

: to indulge in sentiment

transitive verb

: to look upon or imbue with sentiment

sentimentalization

ˌsen-tə-ˌmen-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Example Sentences

The movie sentimentalizes the past.

He does not sentimentalize in his biography.

Recent Examples on the Web

The paltry point of this is to sentimentalize the blue transformation/degradation of the West. —Armond White, National Review, 21 Dec. 2022

The play that has been so keen-eyed about sentimentalizing the industry starts to sentimentalize a little towards the end. —Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 May 2022

EGERTON Paul ran at the darkness of that part like a charging bull rather than try to soften it or sentimentalize it or romanticize it, or try to make it in any way Hollywood. —Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2022

The filmmakers don’t try to tone down Dahl’s darkness or sentimentalize the children’s plight. —Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Dec. 2022

Kimberly tries her darnedest not to feel sorry for herself, and the authors pay her the respect of not permitting us to sentimentalize her much, either. —Peter Marks, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2022

Unlike most war stories, All Quiet on the Western Front makes no effort to justify or sentimentalize either side of the conflict. —Time, 2 Nov. 2022

Hollywood geeks might sentimentalize Casablanca, but Breathless goes deeper. —Armond White, National Review, 16 Sep. 2022

Her transitions from social observation to personal revelations (family home videos and her sister’s social work) sentimentalize exploitation of the working class by the bourgeoisie. —Armond White, National Review, 13 July 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense