sentimentality

[ sen-tuh-men-tal-i-tee ]

noun

, plural sen·ti·men·tal·i·ties.

1. the quality or state of being sentimental or excessively sentimental.
2. an instance of being sentimental.
3. a sentimental act, gesture, expression, etc.

sentimentality

/ ˌsɛntɪmɛnˈtælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state, quality, or an instance of being sentimental
2. an act, statement, etc, that is sentimental

Other Words From

• over·senti·men·tali·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sentimentality¹

First recorded in 1760–70; sentimental + -ity

Synonym Study

See sentiment.

Example Sentences

Ms Lock said they felt people wanted "a bit of emotion and sentimentality" after "a tough year, with global conflict and an economic crisis".

From BBC

The lack of sentimentality was admirable.

From Los Angeles Times

"Emilia Pérez was originally intended to be an opera, which perhaps partly explains its saccharine sentimentality, repetitive lyrics, and diverging story branches. But that doesn’t excuse its almost random, whiplash-inducing tonal pivots," said Slant's Kyle Turner.

From BBC

But as is often the case from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the episode’s sharp-edged satire is laced with deep sentimentality, rendering Casa Bonita almost mythical, a place so ludicrous in its artifice that it becomes a cultural touchstone.

From Salon

Perhaps it was sentimentality that led me to wonder: Where can I swim in a lake in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• melodrama
• nostalgia