sentimentalism

/ˌsɛn(t)əˈmɛn(t)əˌlɪzəm/
noun
  1. A tendency to rely on or express tender emotions, especially in an excessive or artificial way.
    • Modern audiences often find the sentimentalism of Victorian literature hard to take seriously.
    • The novel was criticized for its sentimentalism, with characters crying at every turn.
    • His speech was full of sentimentalism, but it didn't offer any real solutions.
  2. A philosophical or artistic movement that emphasizes feeling and emotion over reason and logic.
    • Some philosophers argue that sentimentalism is a valid basis for ethics.
    • The painter's work reflects the sentimentalism of the Romantic era.
    • Sentimentalism in the 18th century valued emotional responses as a guide to morality.
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