Sentimentalize

To sentimentalize means to treat or interpret something in a way that evokes or emphasizes excessive or mawkish emotion, especially feelings of nostalgia, tenderness, or pity. It often involves exaggerating the positive aspects while minimizing or ignoring the negative. This can lead to a distorted or overly romanticized view of a person, situation, or object. It can involve the embellishment or creation of emotional responses that may not be entirely justified by the reality of the subject matter. It is the act of infusing an otherwise factual or dispassionate subject with an excess of feeling, potentially rendering it unrealistic.

Sentimentalize meaning with examples

• The movie dangerously *sentimentalizes* the war, focusing solely on the bravery and brotherhood of the soldiers while glossing over the horrors and devastation that war inevitably brings. By avoiding the harsh realities, it paints a picture of conflict that lacks depth and complexity, appealing to a simplistic and emotionally charged narrative.
• Avoid *sentimentalizing* your childhood home. Remember it for what it was, not what you want it to have been, or what you imagine it to be. A house is simply a building: if you have good memories there, that's all well and good, but do not build your entire identity around it.
• Critics accused the author of *sentimentalizing* the historical figures, making them appear unrealistically virtuous and heroic. In an attempt to generate an easily accessible emotion in the reader, the author sacrificed realism for dramatic effect. The actual complexities of these people were neglected.
• When discussing past relationships, it's easy to sentimentalize them, focusing on the initial excitement and avoiding the painful reasons why things ended. Be honest about past relationships or you may find yourself missing those moments. The good and the bad are what made it what it was; don't just focus on the good.