mawkishness Definition
excessive sentimentality, especially in an exaggerated or insincere manner.
Using mawkishness: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mawkishness" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The movie's mawkishness made it hard to take seriously.
Example
I can't stand the mawkishness of romantic comedies.
Example
The speech was filled with mawkishness and cliches.
mawkishness Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for mawkishness
- sentimentality
- maudlinism
- emotionalism
- over-sentimentality
Phrases with mawkishness
an excessive and insincere display of emotions
Example
The politician's speech was filled with mawkish sentimentality.
Example
The novel was criticized for its mawkish love story.
Example
The movie was criticized for its mawkish nostalgia for the 1950s.
Origins of mawkishness
from Middle English 'mawke', meaning 'maggot'
Summary: mawkishness in Brief
'Mawkishness' [ˈmɔːkɪʃnəs] refers to excessive sentimentality, often in an exaggerated or insincere manner. It is commonly found in movies, books, and speeches, as exemplified by 'The movie's mawkishness made it hard to take seriously.' 'Mawkishness' extends into phrases like 'mawkish love story,' and is often associated with negative connotations like 'cheesiness' and 'sappiness.'