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
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 reality, like almost everything to do with that land, Balfour’s policy was driven more by sentimental religious ideas than by rational statecraft.
—
Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The appointment to the unit is especially sentimental because Queen Camilla’s late father, Major Bruce Shand, served with the 12th Lancers during World War II and received two Military Crosses, including for gallantry in battle.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
Frampton, for his part, beyond the merits of having had one of the biggest albums of all time, may be a sentimental favorite this year, due to his being in the acknowledged twilight of his musical career.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024
By his sentimental attachment to the Vale of Cashmere, and by his belief in the purity of children.
—Benjamin Nugent, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
When in doubt, Jackson errs on the side of a sentimental gift or an experience, such as sporting event tickets or a dinner at his favorite restaurant.
—Lauren Finney Harden, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2024
Many of the pieces were gifted to Bennett by his friends or collaborators, giving the bling a sentimental quality.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
At the time Kobe bought the sentimental gift, the pair had reconciled after calling off their plans to divorce in 2013.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
But at the same time, many people who have called these places home still have a sentimental connection to them, any spiritual degradation notwithstanding.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The appointment to the unit is especially sentimental because Queen Camilla’s late father, Major Bruce Shand, served with the 12th Lancers during World War II and received two Military Crosses, including for gallantry in battle.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
Frampton, for his part, beyond the merits of having had one of the biggest albums of all time, may be a sentimental favorite this year, due to his being in the acknowledged twilight of his musical career.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024
By his sentimental attachment to the Vale of Cashmere, and by his belief in the purity of children.
—Benjamin Nugent, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
When in doubt, Jackson errs on the side of a sentimental gift or an experience, such as sporting event tickets or a dinner at his favorite restaurant.
—Lauren Finney Harden, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2024
Many of the pieces were gifted to Bennett by his friends or collaborators, giving the bling a sentimental quality.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
At the time Kobe bought the sentimental gift, the pair had reconciled after calling off their plans to divorce in 2013.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
But at the same time, many people who have called these places home still have a sentimental connection to them, any spiritual degradation notwithstanding.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sentimental.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near sentimental
Cite this Entry
“Sentimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentimental. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
adverb
-ᵊl-ē
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