sentimentality

UK: /ˌsɛntɪmɛnˈtæləti/

US: /ˌsɛntəmɛnˈtælɪti/

US: (sen′tə men tal′i tē)

Inflections of 'sentimentality' (n): npl: sentimentalities

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sen•ti•men•tal•i•ty  (sen′tə men tal′i tē), n., pl. -ties. 

1. the quality or state of being sentimental or excessively sentimental.
2. an instance of being sentimental.
3. a sentimental act, gesture, expression, etc.

• sentimental + -ity 1760–70

Synonyms

See sentiment. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sentimentality / ˌsɛntɪmɛnˈtælɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. the state, quality, or an instance of being sentimental
2. an act, statement, etc, that is sentimental

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

sen•ti•men•tal /ˌsɛntəˈmɛntəl/   adj. 

1. of or relating to the tender emotions, esp. excessively:
   sentimental dreams of love and marriage.
2. embarrassingly emotional:
   Let's not get too sentimental about our relationship.
3. nostalgic:
   a sentimental journey to one's old hometown.

sen•ti•men•tal•ism, n. [uncountable]
sen•ti•men•tal•ist, n. [countable]
sen•ti•men•tal•i•ty /ˌsɛntəmɛnˈtælɪti/  n. [uncountable]
sen•ti•men•tal•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sen•ti•men•tal  (sen′tə men′tl), adj. 

1. expressive of or appealing to sentiment, esp. the tender emotions and feelings, as love, pity, or nostalgia:
   a sentimental song.
2. pertaining to or dependent on sentiment:
   We kept the old photograph for purely sentimental reasons.
3. weakly emotional;
   mawkishly susceptible or tender:
   the sentimental Victorians.
4. characterized by or showing sentiment or refined feeling.

• sentiment + -al¹ 1740–50

sen′ti•men′tal•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. romantic, tender, nostalgic; maudlin, bathetic.

Antonyms

• 1, 4. dispassionate.