sentimentalist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, sometimes slightly critical
Quick answer
What does “sentimentalist” mean?
A person who is excessively or affectedly emotional, especially about nostalgic or tender feelings.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is excessively or affectedly emotional, especially about nostalgic or tender feelings.
Someone who bases actions or judgments on emotions rather than reason; a person who values sentimentality, often in art, literature, or personal conduct.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Usage patterns are similar.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British literary criticism. In American usage, may more frequently imply impracticality.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, with slightly higher occurrence in UK literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sentimentalist” in a Sentence
[be/consider] a sentimentalist[accuse/label] someone a sentimentalist[play/act] the sentimentalistVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sentimentalist” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - No standard verb form.
American English
- N/A - No standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No standard adverb form.
American English
- N/A - No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- His sentimentalist tendencies emerged when he spoke of his childhood.
American English
- She has a sentimentalist view of small-town America.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used pejoratively: 'We can't afford to be sentimentalists in this merger.'
Academic
Found in literary, philosophical, or cultural studies discussing emotionalism vs. rationalism.
Everyday
Used to describe someone overly nostalgic or emotional: 'My dad's a real sentimentalist about his old records.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sentimentalist”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sentimentalist”
- Misspelling as 'sentamentalist'.
- Using it as a direct synonym for 'sensitive person'.
- Confusing with 'sentimental' (adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is often slightly negative or critical, implying excessive or unthinking emotion, but can be neutral in literary contexts.
'Sentimental' is an adjective describing something imbued with tender emotion. 'Sentimentalist' is a noun for a person who habitually has or values such emotions, often to excess.
Rarely, and usually as a criticism for being overly emotional or nostalgic in decision-making.
No, there is no standard verb derived from 'sentimentalist'. The related verb is 'sentimentalise' (UK) / 'sentimentalize' (US).
A person who is excessively or affectedly emotional, especially about nostalgic or tender feelings.
Sentimentalist is usually formal, literary, sometimes slightly critical in register.
Sentimentalist: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsen.tɪˈmen.tə.lɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsen.t̬əˈmen.t̬ə.lɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “wear one's heart on one's sleeve”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SENTIMENT + ALIST. Someone who is a specialist (-alist) in feelings (sentiment).
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION IS A LIQUID (overflows), REASON IS SOLID (firm).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST definition of a 'sentimentalist'?