sentimental

adjective

ˌsen-tə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce sentimental (audio)
Definition of sentimentalnext
as in sloppy
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way a sentimental story about unrequited love

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sentimental The Freakier Friday star also reflected on turning 40 in a sentimental Instagram post. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 July 2026 This year, make your social media post one for the history books with these festive, funny, and sentimental Fourth of July Instagram captions. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 2 July 2026 Like many sentimental folks, Joan had a hard time discarding the cards. — Anna Halkidis, The Spruce, 1 July 2026 Throughout the night, sentimental videos from different chapters of Jackson's career played on the screens by the stage, along with messages from stars not in attendance like country singers Keith Urban, Zac Brown and Kenny Chesney as well as NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. — Bryan West, USA Today, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentimental
  1. sloppy
  2. sticky
  3. mawkish
  4. schmaltzy
  5. maudlin
  6. sappy
  7. saccharine
  8. fuzzy
Adjective
  • Lime clasts are tiny white chunks of limestone that were previously mistaken for evidence of sloppy mixing.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
  • The Americans played sloppy and ugly soccer in the first half, and Belgium overwhelmed the home side.
    — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • What left me feeling more sticky-fingered were the gorgeous (and authentic) Asian artifacts that were placed throughout the room.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • To overcome the water’s sticky surface tension, the engineers discovered the robot must approach the surface at a steep 70-degree pitch.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Its direction is stodgy and unimpressive, and its screenplay stilted and mawkish.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
  • The sounds are chintzy and soaked in reverb, like a mawkish ’80s ballad rewritten from memory, and the whole thing slowly falls apart and fades out like an old track by the Field.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 24 June 2026
Definition of mawkish
Adjective
  • Albini doesn’t dress up those songs with any schmaltzy production or studio tricks.
    — David Harris, SPIN, 11 June 2026
  • In the way that Harrison looks to the Bible for models of relationships and drama, Cappa’s Haha, You Clowns looks to schmaltzy sitcoms and after school specials.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Definition of schmaltzy
Adjective
  • That’s when the movie takes a direction that’s both maudlin in the true sense of the word and ultimately even sanctimonious regarding the heroine’s sudden redemption.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
  • Highly earnest—sometimes even maudlin—the show is a throwback to the serial medical dramas that were omnipresent in the nineties and twenty-tens.
    — David S. Wallace, New Yorker, 16 May 2026
Definition of maudlin
Adjective
  • The bicentennial was the moment of nostalgic gluttony that topped them all, with its reenactment of battles, its old-fashioned sailing ships, and its outpouring of sappy patriotic products printed with the magic numerals 76.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • The announcement may come as a shock for country fans who have followed the couple through their sappy podcast appearances and gushy acceptance speeches.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of sappy
Adjective
  • Overdo it, and your recipe becomes too saccharine.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
  • With a minimal, yet still impactful, pastel floral design, the rug hedges its saccharine design with ample negative space.
    — Briana Feigon, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2026
Definition of saccharine
Adjective
  • The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health recommends soaking leafy produce and fuzzy fruits like peaches in a 10% white vinegar and 90% water mixture.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Deers tend to avoid flowers and plants with strong odors or foliage with a fuzzy, rough, or odd texture.
    — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Definition of fuzzy

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sentimental
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Cite this Entry

“Sentimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentimental. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sentimental for Spanish Speakers

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