mawkish Definition
sentimental in a way that is exaggerated or false; cloyingly sweet.
Using mawkish: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mawkish" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The movie was so mawkish that I couldn't finish watching it.
Example
The book's mawkish sentimentality turned off many readers.
Example
The speech was filled with mawkish platitudes and cliches.
Example
I prefer honest emotion to mawkishness.
mawkish Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for mawkish
Antonyms for mawkish
- unsentimental
- tough-minded
Phrases with mawkish
an exaggerated or false display of emotion that is intended to manipulate or deceive others
Example
The politician's mawkish sentimentality was seen as an attempt to win votes.
a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, often in an idealized form
Example
The movie's mawkish nostalgia for the 1950s was criticized by some viewers.
Example
The novel was dismissed by critics as a mawkish love story.
Origins of mawkish
from Middle English 'mawke', meaning 'maggot'
Summary: mawkish in Brief
'Mawkish' [ˈmɔːkɪʃ] describes something that is overly sentimental or cloying, often in a way that is exaggerated or false. It can refer to movies, books, speeches, or other forms of expression, as in 'The book's mawkish sentimentality turned off many readers.' 'Mawkish' can also be used in phrases like 'mawkish nostalgia,' which denotes a sentimental longing for the past, and 'mawkish love story,' which refers to a romantic story that is overly sentimental.
