sentimentality

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

noun

plural

sentimentalities 

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 Word Forms

• oversentimentality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sentimentality¹

First recorded in 1760–70; sentimental + -ity

Synonym Study

See sentiment.

Example Sentences

Burns says that was all part of figuring out “how to loosen the barnacles of sentimentality that have encrusted themselves” on the war.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“And a little bit of sentimentality. I didn’t go out of my way, but I would think, maybe I should buy a few of these.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Let's assess the place as you asked," ChatGPT told her, "without unnecessary sentimentality."

Read more on BBC

But as agreeable as it is, it can’t square its jabs with its sentimentality.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And though he’s undeniably quixotic, PTA’s relentless urgency consistently overrides the sticky trappings of saccharine sentimentality that would snare less ambitious filmmakers.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• melodrama 
• nostalgia 

When To Use

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.