1
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
corny violin music during the movie's love scenes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rustical
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated
the audience groaned as the emcee told one corny joke after another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of corny
Harbaugh’s antics can seem cliche and even corny at times.
—
Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Carey concert was sweet and old-fashioned and corny as hell
This tour is an obvious extension of those early forays into Yuletide entertainment.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 16 Nov. 2024
Except … some of us were ready to actually go along with a good old-fashioned corny Billy Crystal–style musical parody.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
James Beard Award semifinalist Julio Hernandez launches his latest Nashville venture to long lines and a packed dining room
Brad Schmitt
Nashville Tennessean
0:00
0:29
Not to be corny, but the new brick-and-mortar Maiz de la Vida is poppin'.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for corny 
Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Carey concert was sweet and old-fashioned and corny as hell
This tour is an obvious extension of those early forays into Yuletide entertainment.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 16 Nov. 2024
Except … some of us were ready to actually go along with a good old-fashioned corny Billy Crystal–style musical parody.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
James Beard Award semifinalist Julio Hernandez launches his latest Nashville venture to long lines and a packed dining room
Brad Schmitt
Nashville Tennessean
0:00
0:29
Not to be corny, but the new brick-and-mortar Maiz de la Vida is poppin'.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for corny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corny
Adjective
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The opening of the gift was a sentimental moment for more reasons than one.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
6 Feb. 2025
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Memories are attached to sentimental objects as the moon and Mercury harmonize!—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Ekman-Larsson’s sloppy high-sticking penalty in the third led to a go-ahead goal, bringing the grade down a touch. D3 (Simon Benoit — Philippe Myers): C- After a strong effort on Thursday, this pair came back to earth on Saturday.—
Nick Ashbourne,
The Athletic,
9 Feb. 2025
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But Klein notes that all the activity belies just how many of the new administration's most high-profile decisions have already been stymied by sloppy rollouts, gotten jammed up by the courts, or faced widespread condemnation by world leaders.—
Gene Demby,
NPR,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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To gain her confidence, Arabella pretends to be Jewish (a hokey contrivance that Shakespeare would have approved of), and Indji shares the story of her banishment.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2025
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Cutting a long story short, a vocal minority of reactionary gamers is perturbed that a sci-fi video game features a Black samurai protagonist, despite the game’s hokey premise centering on the genetic recording of memories written to computer software.—
Lewis Gordon,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Opting for too many chemicals can leave surfaces sticky in the best of scenarios and create dangerous fumes in the worst of scenarios.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2025
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Finish half the wings with Buffalo sauce and the rest with a sticky ginger-soy glaze.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appétit,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a fair share of cornball dialogue in Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schulz’s screenplay, as well as an excess of reassuring schmaltz at the fadeout.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2024
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Another scream for this bad, unabashedly cornball line.—
Evan Minsker,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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The black metal bed has a minimalist design that complements rustic and industrial interiors.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
15 Feb. 2025
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Oakland has a new seafood-centric bistro that performs a lovely balancing act between rustic and refined, Sirene.—
John Metcalfe,
The Mercury News,
14 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Corny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corny. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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