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sentimentality

sentimentality

17 5.5
A way of showing too much emotion that seems false
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛntɪˈmɛntəlɪti/
translation icon : sensiblería
  • We are driven by sentimentality, which is false, dramatic, shallow, displayed feeling feelings not in the heart, but feelings worn on the sleeve.
  • sentimentality and nostalgia
  • romantic sentimentality
  • the sentimentality of the novel

It's pretty sincere without, I hope ever falling into sentimentality, which I despise.

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Examples

  • The film was criticized for its over-the-top sentimentality that felt insincere to the audience.

  • You can't let sentimentality derail everything that we've worked so hard for.

  • Personal sentimentality has no place in our movement.

  • Any more sentimentality around here, I shall go back to the hospital!

  • To avoid the comfortable sentimentality of being able to think that evil exists outside ourselves.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • There's no room for sentimentality, you know that.

  • I suppose I should consider this a loss to science and a foolish surrender to sentimentality.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Students who are willing to display empathy or sentimentality are putting themselves in a position of vulnerability.

    Academic text (2011)
  • It's pretty sincere without, I hope ever falling into sentimentality, which I despise.

  • Her style shows signs of maturity; her tales are not prepubescent anymore, and her sentimentality has mellowed.

    Academic text (1996)

Synonyms

schmaltz
vssentimentality
4 9.5

An overly emotional style in art like songs or films

is the general exaggerated emotion not limited to artistic or musical contexts
emotionalism
vssentimentality
4 7.3

The act of showing very strong feelings, often more than needed

is more about exaggerated and often insincere emotion rather than mere intensity
sentimentalism
vssentimentality
1 7.9

A tendency to show too much tender or nostalgic feeling about the past

is general excessive emotion without focusing only on tender or nostalgic feelings
mawkishness
vssentimentality
1 9.5

A feeling of too much fake emotion that seems overly sweet

is more general covering exaggerated emotion even without a sweet or fake tone
sappiness
vssentimentality
  • Informal
1 6.3

Being too emotional in a way that seems not sincere

is the general quality of exaggerated feeling not only limited to tender types
sloppiness
vssentimentality
1 5.4

Too much emotion that seems false

is the general exaggerated emotion which may be more intentional or refined
melodramatics
vssentimentality
1 7.2

A person's exaggerated emotional behavior often shown in speech or acting

is the overall excessive emotion which may be present without theatrical action
drippiness
vssentimentality
9.6

A feeling that is too emotional and seems false

is broader and more neutral meaning excessive emotion whether sincere or not
mushiness
vssentimentality
7.7

Being overly emotional in a way that seems not sincere

is about excessive emotion broadly not limited to soft or weak expressions
soupiness
vssentimentality
  • Literature
8.3

A feeling that is too emotional in a story or film

is the broader quality of excessive emotion across any situation or use
shmaltz
vssentimentality
  • Informal
9.9

Too much emotion in art or music that feels overdone

is the broader exaggerated emotion that applies beyond art and music
maudlinness
vssentimentality
8.4

A feeling of being too sad and emotional, often after drinking

is the broader quality of exaggerated emotion not tied to drunkenness

Antonyms

16 5.5

A lack of care for other people's feelings or needs

5 7.8

A calm way of accepting pain or hardship without complaint

How Sentimental

mawkishness
1 9.5
sentimentality
17 5.5
tenderness
41 3.4
reserve
9 5.2
stoicism
5 7.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

sentimentality = sentimental (semi-transparent) = sentiment + al + ity

A regular nominalization: the adjective 'sentimental' + the noun-forming suffix '-ity' yields the abstract noun meaning 'the state or quality of being sentimental'.

Etymology

Sentimentality comes from the Latin sentire meaning 'to feel' and from sentiment, a 'feeling', and it shares the same root as sense and sensitive. So sentimentality is like 'too much feeling' — showing emotions in a way that is overly emotional or not real, which is why we use it for writing or films that feel exaggerated.