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

Simon is a writer and television producer, best known for “The Wire,” and if you follow his Twitter feed, you know he’s not prone to sentimentality.

From Washington Post

While admittedly most of my go-to breakup albums tend to lean towards melancholy and sentimentality, Bannon’s brutally honest and raw energy is as effective as any slowed down ballad could ever be.

From Time

For as attractive as these jobs will be, the hires won’t be easy to get right, not with all the pressure, politics and sentimentality involved.

From Washington Post

There’s no hint of sentimentality in Fern or in Nomadland — only a need to remember and to keep living.

From Vox

Giannis Antetokounmpo cashes in with his supermax deal, but sentimentality comes at a priceThe great escape is always the expectation now.

From Washington Post

It was a coming-out story of sorts told with self-effacing un-sentimentality.

From The Daily Beast

He once told me that he hated AIDS films because of the sentimentality.

From The Daily Beast

Here, however, the novel ends with unearned sentimentality and cheap contrivance.

From The Daily Beast

“I have a horror of hysterics or sentimentality,” he explained.

From The Daily Beast

But 30 years later the Civil Rights Movement smothered any remaining sentimentality under the banner of equality.

From The Daily Beast

I should not allow inane sentimentality to influence me: it is beneath the revolutionist.

From Project Gutenberg

I startled a passing cabman into interest by laughing aloud at that magnificent and characteristic sentimentality.

From Project Gutenberg

He alone in French art inclines a little, in his tearful sentimentality, to the Romantic school of Dsseldorf.

From Project Gutenberg

And this, indeed, contrasted strangely with his former abandon, and with the customary gush of German sentimentality.

From Project Gutenberg

We can see how the indiscriminate preaching of such a formula would open the flood-gates of sentimentality and fraud.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• melodrama
• nostalgia

More About Sentimentality

What does sentimentality mean?

Sentimentality is the state or quality of being sentimental—expressing, appealing to, or being moved by sensitive or tender emotions, such as love, nostalgia, or pity.

Sentiment, sentimentality, and other related words (like sentimentalism, which can be used as a synonym of sentimentality) are based on the sense of the word sentiment that refers to sensitive or tender emotions, sensitivity to such emotions, or appeal to such emotions.

Such terms are especially used to imply that these emotions are exaggerated or overindulged. Sometimes, they imply that these emotions get in the way of thinking logically or being realistic.

In this way, sentimentality often means being overly sentimental.

People are sometimes criticized for sentimentality, as in Your sentimentality makes you see things through rose-colored glasses, instead of seeing what they’re really like.  

These kinds of criticisms are especially common in the context of art. For example, a book or film may be criticized for its sentimentality in dealing with a historical event. This implies that it portrays the event in an idealized, simplistic, or nostalgic way instead of depicting it accurately and dealing with what really happened.

Such works might also be described as melodramatic. When they’re tearfully or weakly emotional, they might be described as maudlin, mawkish, sappy, or weepy. Hallmark holiday movies are known for their sentimentality.

Example: His sentimentality is what makes him keep all of his childhood toys.

Where does sentimentality come from?

The first records of the word sentimentality come from around 1770. The word sentimental is first recorded only slightly earlier, in the mid-1700s. The word sentiment is first recorded in the 1300s and comes from the Latin verb sentī(re), meaning “to feel.” The suffix -ity indicates state or condition and is used to form abstract nouns.

Books and movies based on sentimentality are intended to make you feel all the feels—to have an emotional impact, especially one that makes you cry. Sometimes, though, this kind of sentimentality comes at the expense of a realistic story or believable characters. When it’s done simply for emotional effect like this, it’s often called cheap sentimentality.

Still, sentimentality isn’t always viewed negatively. When a person exhibits sentimentality, it often means they are sensitive to their own emotions and to those of others. That focus on feelings like tenderness might mean they express love very openly.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to sentimentality?

• sentimental (adjective)

What are some synonyms for sentimentality?

• sentimentalism
• bathos
• mawkishness
• maudlinness

What are some words that share a root or word element with sentimentality? 

• sentiment
• sentimentalist
• sentimentalize
• sentimental value

What are some words that often get used in discussing sentimentality?

• cheap
• false
• melodrama
• nostalgia
• romantic
• maudlin
• mawkish
• sappy
• weepy
• cloying

How is sentimentality used in real life?

Sentimentality often refers to a quality of people and works of art. In the context of art, it’s often used in criticisms of works that are considered overly sentimental.

This album could’ve very easily veered into sentimentality or even preaching, but it doesn’t! It simply delivers good music. I love you, @BTS_twt!

— I Can Be Your Hero⁷ (@mptpurplesbts) November 20, 2020

As I try to declutter my space, I take my hat off to all those folks who blithely reinvent their homes as documented in the magazines. Their complete overcoming of sentimentality eludes me. Consumer culture demands it I guess.

— Sherida Charles (@SilveryCurls) November 15, 2020

[#WorkOfTheDay]This bust demonstrates Houdon's marvellous ability to express the freshness of childhood without sentimentality: Louise Brongniart still has the slight chubbiness of a young infant.
☛ https://t.co/BCbD1ffTgw#Sculptures pic.twitter.com/xu5PKUI7nf

— Musée du Louvre (@MuseeLouvre) November 3, 2020

 

 

Try using sentimentality!

Which of the following words would NOT be used to describe something considered an example of sentimentality?

A. realistic
B. maudlin
C. cloying
D. sappy