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

Not long after that, he begins acting without sentimentality, making decisions on who or what has the best chances.

From Salon

"There's just a horrible risk of some sentimentality creeping in for this as it's a tight fight again, but who knows?"

From BBC

The magic ingredient of food is so often sentimentality, which is why “The Bear” hits so hard.

From Salon

Both Bechdel and Alison know that they are ideological relics living in a future where selling out has taken on a sepia-toned sentimentality and dodging the tentacles of commerce is a losing game.

From Salon

A good time, no doubt, and yet I found myself missing a hint of sentimentality while watching “World of Color Happiness!”

From Los Angeles Times

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.