Sentimentalist

A sentimentalist is a person who is guided by or excessively indulges in emotions, especially feelings of tenderness, nostalgia, or romantic notions. This term often implies a tendency to view situations through a lens of emotional idealism rather than practical realism, leading to an emphasis on personal feelings and emotional responses over logical reasoning or critical analysis. Sentimentalists may find solace in memories or hold onto the past, viewing it with deep affection.

Sentimentalist meaning with examples

• At its core, the novel is a reflection of the protagonist's journey as a sentimentalist, tracing his emotional evolution as he reminisces about lost love and simpler times. His introspective nature leads him to idealize moments from his childhood, viewing them through a nostalgic lens that colors his perceptions and influences his present relationships, ultimately prompting readers to ponder the fine line between healthy fondness for the past and unhealthy obsession.
• She often craved the comfort of old movies, an indicator of her sentimentalist tendencies, where every love story brought back memories of her own experiences. As she sat curled up on the couch, the stories played like a soft melody in her mind, the soundtracks evoking feelings tied to relationships long gone. Her friends would often tease her about being overly emotional, but for her, these moments were sacred connections to what used to be.
• During discussions about modern art, he expressed views typical of a sentimentalist, arguing that the emotional connection to a piece is far more significant than its artistic execution. His perspective sparked lively debate, as others took a more analytical stance, focusing instead on technique and structure. Nevertheless, he defended his belief staunchly, asserting that art should primarily resonate with the heart, transcending mere aesthetics to create profound personal experiences.
• The class watched a documentary highlighting various sentimentalists throughout art history, focusing on how their emotional expressions influenced movements significantly, from Romanticism to contemporary works. Students were captivated by stories of artists whose works were steeped in personal narratives, longing, and emotional turbulence. Some even began to question their own creative paths, contemplating whether their feelings could drive the transformative power of their art, much like those passionate figures they admired.