sentimentalist

American  

[sen-tuh-men-tl-ist] / ˌsɛn təˈmɛn tl ɪst /

noun

1. one given to sentiment or sentimentality.

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Usage

What does sentimentalist mean? A sentimentalist is someone who’s prone to being sentimental—expressing, expressing, appealing to, or being moved by sensitive or tender emotions, such as love, nostalgia, or pity.In other words, a sentimentalist is someone who’s prone to sentimentalism or sentimentality.All of these terms 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, sentimentalist is often used to refer to someone who is overly sentimental.People are sometimes criticized for being sentimentalists, as in Sentimentalists 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 sentimentalism 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 sentimentalism, and a person who enjoys them unironically might be called a sentimentalist.Example: He’s the kind of sentimentalist who keeps all of his childhood toys.

Etymology

Origin of sentimentalist

First recorded in 1770–80; sentimental + -ist

Example Sentences

One thing the new/old and often outspoken Dodgers reliever is not: a sentimentalist.

From Los Angeles Times

Sergei Rachmaninoff is a popular composer, but many classical music experts dismiss him as a sentimentalist who leaned into nostalgia.

From New York Times

He might appeal to the sentimentalists after his two spells as a player at Everton but has no managerial experience at the highest level.

From BBC

He is uncompromising in matters of taste, ethics and English usage, as well as a wet-eyed sentimentalist and a man who likes to have a good time.

From New York Times

“What you are left with is a characterization of the queen as a rather selfish, introverted sentimentalist who is sort of losing the plot,” he said.

From Washington Post