sentimental
sen-tih-MEN-tul
/ˌsɛntɪˈmɛntəl/
Of or prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia.
Can be positive (cherishing memories) or slightly negative (being overly emotional or 'sappy').
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'sentire,' meaning 'to feel' or 'to perceive.' In the 18th century, being 'sentimental' was actually considered a virtue—it meant you were a person of refined feeling and morality.
Word relationships
- nostalgic: Nostalgic specifically refers to longing for the past; sentimental is a broader emotional tenderness.
- pragmatic: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically, based on practical rather than emotional considerations.
- cynical: Believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.
Commonly confused with
- sensitive: Sensitive means easily affected or perceptive; sentimental means emotional about the past or relationships.
Word family
- sentiment (noun): A feeling or emotion.
- sentimentality (noun): Excessive tenderness or sadness.
Collocations
- sentimental value
- sentimental attachment
- sentimental journey
Example sentences
- "She kept the dried flowers from her wedding bouquet for sentimental reasons." Keeping a memento.
- "I'm getting sentimental over you." A famous song lyric. (Ned Washington (Song Title))
Memory hook
A 'sentimental' person has a lot of 'sentiment' (feeling) in their 'mental' state. Feeling with the heart.
When not to use
Avoid using it to describe a logical or cold decision; it is purely about heart over head.
Fun facts
- Laurence Sterne's 1768 novel 'A Sentimental Journey' helped popularize the word in English.
Related words
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