sentimentalism
sentimentalism — noun
1. a tendency to let your feelings, especially love, sadness, or nostalgia, influen
a tendency to let your feelings, especially love, sadness, or nostalgia, influence your thinking and actions more than is reasonable, often to the point of poor judgment
Felix's sentimentalism led him to keep every train ticket and dried flower from trips he took twenty years ago.
sentimentalism + possessive noun — shows sentimentalism as a personal trait affecting behaviour
The novel was criticized for its sentimentalism because every scene seemed designed to make the reader cry.
criticized for [its] sentimentalism — common negative framing in reviews
Anna realised her sentimentalism was hurting her career when she kept forgiving a colleague who took credit for her work.
A good judge must set aside sentimentalism and base each decision strictly on the facts of the case.
- sentimentality
more neutral; can be positive or negative depending on context
- emotionalism
broader — refers to any strong emotion, not just tender feelings
- mawkishness
stronger disapproval — implies sickly, exaggerated emotion that feels fake
- rationality
decision-making based on logic rather than feelings
- stoicism
the ability to suppress emotion in favour of calm endurance
用法筆記
Almost always carries a negative or critical tone — it suggests that emotion has overtaken reason in an unhealthy way. Frequently used in literary or film criticism.
常見錯誤
2. the act of putting tender emotions such as affection, longing, or grief into wor
the act of putting tender emotions such as affection, longing, or grief into words or actions in an exaggerated way that feels insincere or cheap
The eulogy was spoiled by sentimentalism, listing every small kindness in tearful detail until the audience grew uncomfortable.
sentimentalism describing speech or writing negatively
Astrid put the card back on the shelf because its sentimentalism made her cringe at the hollow rhymes.
The politician's speech avoided sentimentalism and instead talked plainly about the budget, the schools, and the roads.
Shirin thought the museum exhibition was ruined by sentimentalism; it focused on tear-jerking stories instead of real history.
Anjali rolled her eyes at the wedding video's sentimentalism — slow-motion shots of roses and long piano notes.
- sentimentality
broader and less critical than sentimentalism
- bathos
a sudden drop from a serious to a trivial tone, often unintentionally funny
- schmaltz
informal — excessive sentimentality in art or music, often associated with clichés
- restraint
holding back excessive emotion in expression
- understatement
saying less than expected, the opposite of dramatic feeling
用法筆記
Focuses on the public expression itself (speech, writing, art) rather than the internal trait. Often used to criticise movies, books, speeches, or ceremonies.