as in sloppy
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a sentimental story about unrequited love
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sentimental
The version of the Renaissance beloved of Pater or John Ruskin—a lyrical overture to beauty and communal order, refined by classical aestheticism—is, on this view, sentimental.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
The judges are gentle with their criticism and sentimental with their praise; the contestants support each other.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 23 July 2025
Bottom line: If the fabric is fussy, valuable, or sentimental, let the experts handle it.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 28 July 2025
Romance feels more sentimental now, and even platonic relationships take on a more nurturing tone.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sentimental
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
The judges are gentle with their criticism and sentimental with their praise; the contestants support each other.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 23 July 2025
Bottom line: If the fabric is fussy, valuable, or sentimental, let the experts handle it.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 28 July 2025
Romance feels more sentimental now, and even platonic relationships take on a more nurturing tone.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sentimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentimental
Adjective
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The turmoil dates back to a somewhat sloppy performance at a charity show at London’s Royal Albert Hall in March.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
4 Aug. 2025
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Learning how to practice Despite the steady energy throughout camp, Saturday’s session had its share of sloppy moments.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For dried or sticky grease, Marshall suggests switching to dish soap diluted in water and rubbing gently with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
14 Aug. 2025
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Despite skyrocketing prices for TV rights from name-brand sports leagues, even smaller streaming services know their future will be driven in part by that particularly sticky tune-in driver for audiences.—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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After a mawkish beginning, the play somewhat redeems itself through earned emotions and an ambiguous ending that begs discussion.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, jailed and banned frequently, has never allowed his work to get mawkish.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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He’s also invested his protagonist with a self-deprecating sense of humor that keeps his pessimism from veering into maudlin territory.—
Book Marks
June 27,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
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In his lesser novels, the tragedies are maudlin and the jokes mere punch lines.—
Charlie Lee,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Madsen put that to good use in Free Willy, a sappy, kid-friendly tale about an orphan who grows to love an orca at a struggling amusement park.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
3 July 2025
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Without succumbing to a sappy ending, Reza makes a strong case for valuing relationships over intellectual homogeneity — an outlook that can feel either naïve or hopeful in polarizing times.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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As saccharine salsa romántica became a pop phenomenon, Palmieri skewed toward economical composition and sonic bombardment, his penchant for trombone-heavy setups sparking a movement of its own within salsa.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
7 Aug. 2025
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Works like Ships in Girl (1992) reject the saccharine tropes of kawaii culture, instead offering nuanced portraits of psychological unrest.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Extended warm, wet weather can cause black spot, which appears as black spots surrounded by yellow.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Aug. 2025
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Remember to pack a good pair of waterproof hiking sandals for wet landings, hiking boots for dry landings, reef-safe sunscreen, and your best camera or a new Go-Pro for underwater videos.—
Kaeli Conforti,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The fuzzy covering can also wear down your dog's teeth over time.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
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The penumbral and partial phases (as the full moon moves through Earth’s fuzzy outer shadow, the penumbra, and into its dark umbra) will precede totality when the lunar surface turns dark and red.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sentimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentimental. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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