as in sentimentalism
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) the sentimentality of the story of star-crossed lovers only made it even more popular with moviegoers

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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 sentimentality For those of us who were from northeast Ohio, maybe even Akron, there of course was a streak of sentimentality to have been there for LeBron’s crowning achievement, and for someone, literally anyone, to break the decades-long curse of Cleveland’s sports teams. David Aldridge, New York Times, 22 June 2025 Arch compositions, blinking edits, and intricate design function as control/constraint on sentimentality. Armond White, National Review, 30 May 2025 Alex Foxworth Alex Foxworth, originally from Greensboro, N.C., infuses her designs with sentimentality and appreciation for her family lineage. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 July 2025 Private equity moving into professional sports conjures the same fears of merciless efficiency in an industry driven by sentimentality, but Arougheti brushes off the concerns, arguing that institutional capital will increase profitability and allow owners to invest more in their teams. Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sentimentality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentimentality
sentimentalism
Noun
  • McBride is less interested in exploring another motivation for saving locks of hair: the particular sentimentalism that made people cherish the hair of loved ones, especially those who had died, or of honored forebears.
    Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
  • While leaders of the nature-study movement warned against sentimentalism and make-believe, young readers were delighted by such tales.
    Jessica George, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sentimentality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentimentality. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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