sentimental

adjective

ˌsen-tə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce sentimental (audio)
Definition of sentimentalnext
as in sticky
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 return of Gustavo Hamer feels like a sentimental move rather than necessarily a sensible football decision and Loum Tchaouna has changed clubs for the fifth summer in a row, and didn’t particularly convince for Burnley last season. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Zendaya’s mom rang in the actress’s 30th birthday with a sentimental Instagram post. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026 Caregiving is hard work Caregiving for an aging parent is not sentimental. — Jim King, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 This includes sentimental artwork, meaningful accessories, books, textiles, and lighting. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentimental
  1. sticky
  2. sloppy
  3. mawkish
  4. schmaltzy
  5. maudlin
  6. sappy
  7. saccharine
  8. fuzzy
Adjective
  • The latest data ramp up pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next week, a move that could lift mortgage and auto loan costs as core inflation proves sticky.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The pair are tasked with bringing public spending and borrowing under control, with sticky inflation, elevated government borrowing costs and lackluster economic growth adding to the urgency of balancing the books.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • The Irish overcame a sloppy first half Sunday night to roll past Wisconsin 41-13 in Green Bay.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Early in the second half, Ipswich had a great chance to counter in a four-vs-four scenario, but Exequiel Palacios’ pass was sloppy and got easily cut out by Alexis Mac Allister.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • Elordi’s performance is a fine one, but any emotional current from the screen to the audience is made choppy by mawkish blasts to the past, Hig at the edge of his bed, head in hands.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 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
  • Except that’s precisely what awards shows are terrible at — those hammy yuk-yuk sketches, or weepy maudlin moments, that struggle to celebrate the industry by interlacing the show with a theatrical insert.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
  • 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
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
  • Together, the notes create a gourmand that feels light and fluffy rather than dense or saccharine—sweet, but never overwhelming.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • At most points in American history, these would have read as pretty anodyne, even saccharine.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of saccharine
Adjective
  • The food industry was forced to abandon fuzzy marketing buzzwords in favor of concrete standards (like USDA Organic).
    — Titania Jordan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The lines between college and pro sports have grown fuzzy, and some marginal pro players are even attempting to return to class to keep their careers alive.
    — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of fuzzy

Browse Nearby Words

sentiment
sentimental
sentimentalism
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Cite this Entry

“Sentimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentimental. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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