sentimentalize

A verb used to express the act of treating something in an excessively emotional or nostalgic manner, often to the point of distortion.

• 🇩🇪Das Verb beschreibt die Handlung, etwas übertrieben emotional, gefühlvoll oder nostalgisch zu betrachten oder darzustellen, oft so, dass es dadurch verklärt oder idealisiert wird.

1. View with excessive emotion C1 formal

   To regard or treat something with exaggerated tenderness, nostalgia, or emotion, often ignoring its harsher realities.

   • The film sentimentalizes the hardships of war, making them seem almost romantic.
   • He tends to sentimentalize his childhood, forgetting all the difficult times.
   • Historians warn against sentimentalizing the past.

   🇩🇪Übertrieben emotional betrachten

   Synonyme: glamorizeidealizesugarcoatvarnish

   Antonyme: dismissdisparageobjectifyrationalize

2. Make something sentimental C1 formal

   To give something a quality of tender emotion or nostalgia, often in an artificial or exaggerated way.

   • The author sentimentalizes the old farmhouse, describing it with excessive fondness.
   • The music sentimentalizes the memory of lost love.
   • They sentimentalized the event by adding too many emotional speeches.

   🇩🇪Sentimentalisieren

   Synonyme: glorifyidealizesweeten

3. Act in a sentimental manner C1 formal

   To behave in a way that shows excessive tender feelings, nostalgia, or emotional indulgence.

   • She tends to sentimentalize whenever she talks about her grandchildren.
   • Stop sentimentalizing and look at the facts logically.
   • He sentimentalized about the 'good old days' for hours.

   🇩🇪Sentimentalität zeigen

   Synonyme: gushmoonrhapsodize