as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a mawkish plea for donations to the charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sentimentality
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion)
the grating mawkishness of her poetry makes me want to stamp on wildflowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mawkish
Armond White, National Review, 26 July 2024
Most important is the songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, who might be a Broadway newcomer, but whose lyrics eschew the mawkish pitfalls in favor of simple, direct communication of intense but familiar emotions through melody and song.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2024
The Oscar shorts are made entirely out of scenes like these, but there is no context — just hours and hours of garish twists and mawkish sentiment.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2024
Based on the 2005 bestselling book, Marley & Me had the potential to come across as a mawkish tale of puppy love, but instead is told as a heartwarming story of friendship, loss, and letting go.
—Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 14 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for mawkish
Adjective
Now, after the two men canoodle, there’s a mawkish finale meant to invoke purpose and principle.
—Armond White, National Review, 26 July 2024
Most important is the songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, who might be a Broadway newcomer, but whose lyrics eschew the mawkish pitfalls in favor of simple, direct communication of intense but familiar emotions through melody and song.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2024
The Oscar shorts are made entirely out of scenes like these, but there is no context — just hours and hours of garish twists and mawkish sentiment.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2024
Based on the 2005 bestselling book, Marley & Me had the potential to come across as a mawkish tale of puppy love, but instead is told as a heartwarming story of friendship, loss, and letting go.
—Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 14 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for mawkish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mawkish
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Fresnel was feeling sentimental about the full-circle moment for her fledgling brand, which takes its inspiration from a ‘borrowed from the boys’ type vibe.—
Freya Drohan,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2025
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This Earth sign is also ruled by Venus, and the King is equally sentimental and passionate, believing in love at first sight.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In its poise, its interiority and conviction, its lack of sentimentality or overstatement, her singing seemed to press the reset button on any standard expectations of a pop star.—
Giovanni Russonello,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
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Hart despises him and his blundering height, despises the hokey sentimentality of Oklahoma!—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The first half was sloppy for both teams as the two totaled nine turnovers each.—
Nathan Canilao,
The Mercury News,
1 Mar. 2025
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The complaint filed by five labor unions and five nonprofit organizations is among multiple lawsuits pushing back on the administration's efforts to vastly shrink the federal workforce, which Trump has called bloated and sloppy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The moment when Sean soothes Laszlo’s fears of losing his best human buddy by telling him that the fear of dying just makes every living moment more special — something else a centuries-old vampire wouldn’t understand — tiptoes right up to the edge of sentimentalism.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
19 Nov. 2024
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King’s honeyed voiceover begins the film with a kind of sentimentalism about childhood and its innocence.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
4 July 2024
Adjective
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Concerns around sticky inflation and rising global tensions remain, and, what’s more, other growing threats such as the ballooning U.S. deficit, and the protectionist rhetoric around tariffs, have central banks around the world looking for alternatives.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
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These insects end up being coated with a thick, sticky liquid that dries onto their bodies and serves to pollinate the flower.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mawkish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mawkish. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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