Sentimentality - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Sentimentality is an excessive focus on tender emotions, often nostalgic or bittersweet, sometimes seen as overly emotional or lacking depth. It is common in art, literature, and personal expression.
Definition:
Excessive tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia, often considered exaggerated or insincere.
Synonyms:
Mawkishness, emotionalism, mushiness
Part of Speech:
Noun
Antonyms:
Cynicism, indifference
Common Collocations:
Excessive sentimentality, nostalgic sentimentality, romantic sentimentality
Derivatives:
Sentimental, sentimentalist
Usage Tips:
Avoid overusing it to describe genuine emotions; it often implies excessive or artificial feelings.
Common Phrases:
Wallow in sentimentality, dripping with sentimentality, a touch of sentimentality
Etymology:
Derived from "sentiment," from Latin *sentimentum*, meaning "feeling" or "opinion."
Examples:
- 1. The movie's sentimentality made some viewers roll their eyes at its overly emotional scenes.
- 2. Her speech was criticized for its excessive sentimentality rather than logical arguments.
- 3. He dismissed the poem as mere sentimentality without deeper meaning.
- 4. The old letters were filled with a touching but harmless sentimentality about the past.