sentimentalism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, academic, literary, critical.
Quick answer
What does “sentimentalism” mean?
A tendency to indulge in excessive or self-indulgent emotion, particularly concerning tender feelings, nostalgia, or romance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tendency to indulge in excessive or self-indulgent emotion, particularly concerning tender feelings, nostalgia, or romance.
A philosophical or artistic doctrine that elevates sentiment and feeling over reason or intellect; the practice of consciously appealing to or cultivating tender emotions in art, literature, or behaviour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Usage patterns are largely identical across academic, literary, and critical discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary negative connotation of 'excessive, mawkish emotion' is dominant. The neutral philosophical usage is equally known in academic circles in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British literary criticism, reflecting historical literary traditions, but the difference is marginal. It is a low-frequency word in everyday language in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “sentimentalism” in a Sentence
[det/adj] + sentimentalism + [prep] + [noun] (e.g., 'the sentimentalism of the period')to be guilty of + [det] + sentimentalismto lapse into + [det] + sentimentalismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sentimentalism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The director's later work began to sentimentalise the hardships of rural life.
- The novel risks sentimentalising poverty.
American English
- The ad campaign sentimentalizes the idea of 'the good old days'.
- He tends to sentimentalize his childhood.
adverb
British English
- The scene was portrayed rather sentimentalistically.
- [Usage is extremely rare; 'sentimentally' is the standard adverbial form]
American English
- The story is told sentimentalistically, losing its edge.
- [Usage is extremely rare; 'sentimentally' is the standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- He dismissed the film as a piece of sentimentalist nonsense.
- The painting was criticised for its sentimentalist approach.
American English
- She wrote a sentimentalist take on the war story.
- The critic panned the play's sentimentalist tone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. May appear in critiques of marketing or branding perceived as overly reliant on nostalgia.
Academic
Common in literary criticism, art history, and philosophy (e.g., 'David Hume's ethical sentimentalism').
Everyday
Uncommon. Used by educated speakers to criticise overly emotional films, music, or behaviour.
Technical
Specific term in aesthetics and moral philosophy denoting doctrines that value sentiment as a primary source of value or judgment.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sentimentalism”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sentimentalism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sentimentalism”
- Misspelling as 'sentamentalism'.
- Using it as a direct synonym for the neutral 'sentimentality' (though closely related, 'sentimentalism' more often implies a conscious doctrine or practice).
- Confusing it with 'sensationalism' (which is about provoking excitement/scandal).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Sentimentality' is the more common noun for the quality of being sentimental. 'Sentimentalism' often implies a more conscious practice, doctrine, or systematic tendency towards sentimentality, and is frequently used in critical or academic discourse.
In everyday and critical language, it is predominantly negative or pejorative, suggesting excess. However, in philosophy (e.g., 'moral sentimentalism') and when naming historical artistic movements, it is a neutral, descriptive term.
It is very rare. A writer might reclaim it positively in a specific context (e.g., 'I embrace a certain sentimentalism'), but this is stylised and against the norm. The adjective 'sentimental' can be positive, but the '-ism' form typically intensifies the critical sense.
For speakers of languages like Russian, the main trap is that the cognate word (сентиментализм) refers specifically to a historical literary movement (Sentimentalism). In English, this is a secondary meaning; the primary meaning is a critical term for excessive emotion.
A tendency to indulge in excessive or self-indulgent emotion, particularly concerning tender feelings, nostalgia, or romance.
Sentimentalism is usually formal, academic, literary, critical. in register.
Sentimentalism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɛn.tɪˈmen.tə.lɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛn.t̬əˈmen.t̬ə.lɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not a direct idiom, but concept appears in] 'wear one's heart on one's sleeve'”
- “[concept related to] 'rose-tinted glasses'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SENTIMENTALISM = SENTIMENT + 'ism' (a doctrine or practice). It's the 'ism' of being sentimental, often taken to an extreme.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION IS A FLUID (e.g., 'drowning in sentimentalism'), EXCESS IS A BURDEN (e.g., 'weighed down by sentimentalism').
Practice
Quiz
In a philosophical context, 'sentimentalism' most precisely refers to: