sentimentality
Americannoun
plural
sentimentalities-
the quality or state of being sentimental or excessively sentimental.
-
an instance of being sentimental.
-
a sentimental act, gesture, expression, etc.
noun
-
the state, quality, or an instance of being sentimental
-
an act, statement, etc, that is sentimental
Usage
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.
Related Words
See sentiment.
Other Word Forms
- oversentimentality noun
Etymology
Origin of sentimentality
First recorded in 1760–70; sentimental + -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I either continued along the sheep-farming route because of sentimentality or made bold decisions."
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026
Neither will mediocrity or the sentimentality from Jeanie Buss.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026
And while there’s definitely some sentimentality involved, it’s mostly that I’m stubborn.
From Slate • Jan. 25, 2026
Mr. Frazier’s eye is sympathetic and free from sentimentality.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
“No sentimentality, comrade!” cried Snowball, from whose wounds the blood was still dripping.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
