as in sloppy
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a sentimental story about unrequited love
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Recent Examples of sentimental
The low-fi practical effects and erotic hijinks hit just the right tone of silly and sentimental.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Queen Maxima’s modern gray motif with accents of black and her sentimental jewelry touch is a slight departure from the European royal’s average fashion statement.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
Without getting too sentimental, these moments will always stay with me, given that Keegan’s brilliance on a football pitch was one of the main reasons why my father took me to one of my first-ever games.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Musk appeared sentimental upon the announcement that Tesla would wind down production of the vehicles.
—Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sentimental
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Queen Maxima’s modern gray motif with accents of black and her sentimental jewelry touch is a slight departure from the European royal’s average fashion statement.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
Without getting too sentimental, these moments will always stay with me, given that Keegan’s brilliance on a football pitch was one of the main reasons why my father took me to one of my first-ever games.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Musk appeared sentimental upon the announcement that Tesla would wind down production of the vehicles.
—Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sentimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentimental
Adjective
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At times, Epstein characterized the billionaire’s office as sloppy and amateurish, exposing him to taxes and reputational risks while making sensitive payments.—
Tom Schoenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The Heat also ran into its own sloppy play, committing 19 turnovers.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Inspect them for rust and any sticky residue which can be wiped away with WD-40 (which also help keep the hinges lubricated).—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
10 Feb. 2026
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And inflation, while still sticky, has remained stable in recent months.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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After a mawkish beginning, the play somewhat redeems itself through earned emotions and an ambiguous ending that begs discussion.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, jailed and banned frequently, has never allowed his work to get mawkish.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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In the way that Harrison looks to the Bible for models of relationships and drama, Cappa’s Haha, You Clowns looks to schmaltzy sitcoms and after school specials.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
18 Dec. 2025
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Its almost schmaltzy final notes are a brilliant companion to Coppola’s unforgettable ending.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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He’s also invested his protagonist with a self-deprecating sense of humor that keeps his pessimism from veering into maudlin territory.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
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His inability to make hard decisions or abstain from becoming a maudlin, clingy drunk had transformed me from his girlfriend and lover into his mother and disciplinarian.—
Julia Ioffe,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The duet is unabashedly sappy, its lyrics full of period-perfect, flowery Medieval revivalism tropes.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
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That’s sappy but sweet stuff, arriving at a time when so much of the human project seems bent toward cruelty and annihilation.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This nail look deviates from the classic saccharine pinks associated with Valentine's Day and uses a cool-toned berry shade.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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Channel childhood nostalgia with this 100% cotton bed skirt, featuring a rosy stripe that’s sweet but not saccharine.—
Shoko Wanger,
Architectural Digest,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As the song unfolds, their voices begin to braid together like twin strands of ivy—a Scottish lilt and a Montana twang—creeping across a hard stone wall of fuzzy grunge guitars.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2026
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Bieber's outfit consisted of straight-leg jeans, a white top, and a cropped leather jacket featuring shoulder pads and fuzzy trim.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sentimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentimental. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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