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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 sentimentality
Beer, wine, dinner, coffee and a unique aesthetic ‘Unexpected benefit’
Former West Village resident and current Brooklynite Bria Schirripa remembers the wild days without much sentimentality.
—
Cindy Augustine, CNN Money, 14 June 2025
Its sentimentality could easily come across as maudlin, its structure too confusing to follow.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025
Unlike many romantic films that idealize love, Blue Valentine strips away all sentimentality, portraying a relationship that is messy, imperfect and often uncomfortable to watch.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, never one for excess sentimentality, admitted the idea had been floating around for a while.
—Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sentimentality
Cindy Augustine, CNN Money, 14 June 2025
Its sentimentality could easily come across as maudlin, its structure too confusing to follow.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025
Unlike many romantic films that idealize love, Blue Valentine strips away all sentimentality, portraying a relationship that is messy, imperfect and often uncomfortable to watch.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, never one for excess sentimentality, admitted the idea had been floating around for a while.
—Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sentimentality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentimentality
sentimentalism
Noun
-
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
-
The moment when Sean soothes Laszlo’s fears of losing his best human buddy by telling him that the fear of dying just makes every living moment more special — something else a centuries-old vampire wouldn’t understand — tiptoes right up to the edge of sentimentalism.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
19 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Sentimentality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentimentality. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share