as in sentimentality
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion)
the tearful sloppiness that you find in so many country-and-western songs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sloppiness
Was this a signal or just sloppiness?
—
David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
She is rattled by her own sloppiness.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
The Blue Devils had some periods of real sloppiness, committing 17 turnovers for the game (five from Boozer).
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
He has been criticised over sloppiness in previous games but was solid at the back and impressive with his passing to break Valencia’s lines.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Rather, most everyone on coach Dennis Gates’ active roster for the game had a hand in the sloppiness.
—The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
But after entering the second quarter with a 26-8 lead, UConn’s offense abruptly devolved into sloppiness.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
At the other end, Brown was atoning for his early sloppiness by igniting the Celtics’ offense.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Lee ignores them, and his self-serving need to fix things and soothe his own sense of injustice leads to sloppiness.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
She is rattled by her own sloppiness.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
The Blue Devils had some periods of real sloppiness, committing 17 turnovers for the game (five from Boozer).
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
He has been criticised over sloppiness in previous games but was solid at the back and impressive with his passing to break Valencia’s lines.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Rather, most everyone on coach Dennis Gates’ active roster for the game had a hand in the sloppiness.
—The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
But after entering the second quarter with a 26-8 lead, UConn’s offense abruptly devolved into sloppiness.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
At the other end, Brown was atoning for his early sloppiness by igniting the Celtics’ offense.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Lee ignores them, and his self-serving need to fix things and soothe his own sense of injustice leads to sloppiness.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppiness
Noun
-
And underlying them all is an unexpectedly sincere exploration of what true love can or should feel like, pitched right on the knife’s edge between sentimentality and cynicism.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
-
That sentimentality makes all this nastiness more satisfying.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Academy historically goes for sentimentalism.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
4 Oct. 2025
-
McBride is less interested in exploring another motivation for saving locks of hair: the particular sentimentalism that made people cherish the hair of loved ones, especially those who had died, or of honored forebears.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sloppiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppiness. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
