sentimental

adjective

sen·​ti·​men·​tal ˌsen-tə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

1

a

: marked or governed by feeling, sensibility, or emotional idealism

b

: resulting from feeling rather than reason or thought

a sentimental attachment

a sentimental favorite

2

: having an excess of sentiment or sensibility

sentimentally adverb

Synonyms of sentimental

• sticky
• sloppy
• mawkish
• schmaltzy
• maudlin
• sappy
• saccharine
• fuzzy
• soppy
• corny
• cloying
• mushy
• wet
• gooey
• sugary
• chocolate-box
• drippy

Examples of sentimental in a Sentence

He has a sentimental attachment to his old high school.

She saved her wedding gown for sentimental reasons.

He has sentimental ideas about the past.

I tend to get very sentimental when I think about my childhood.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a sentimental moment before Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, Bellinger caught the ceremonial first pitch from his father, Clay Bellinger, who played for the Yankees from 1999-2001. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026

But Vasquez cautioned against being overly sentimental about how much the Salvadoran experience has been accepted and adopted by the greater patchwork of Latino Los Angeles. — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Sylvester Stallone may be known for playing tough-as-nails characters in classics like Rocky, First Blood, and Rambo, but apparently, the actor isn’t shy about getting sentimental about his real life. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 29 Sep. 2026

For Sombr, being a part of these celebrations—a decade after his passing—was sentimental and special. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sentimental

• anti-sentimental
• sentimental value

Rhymes for sentimental

• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental
• fundamental
• governmental
• incidental
• incremental
• instrumental
• interdental
• monumental

Kids Definition

sentimental

adjective

sen·​ti·​men·​tal ˌsent-ə-ˈment-ᵊl 

1

a

: marked by feeling or sentiment

b

: resulting from feeling rather than reason or thought

2

: having an excess of sentiment or sensibility

sentimentally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb