cheesy

[ chee-zee ]

adjective

, chees·i·er, chees·i·est.

1. of or like cheese:

   a cheesy aroma; a cheesy taste.

2. Slang. inferior or cheap; chintzy:

   The movie's special effects are cheesy and unconvincing.

cheesy

/ ˈtʃiːzɪ /

adjective

1. like cheese in flavour, smell, or consistency
2. informal.
   (of a smile) broad but possibly insincere

   a big cheesy grin

3. informal.
   banal or trite; in poor taste

Derived Forms

• ˈcheesiness, noun

Other Words From

• cheesi·ly adverb
• cheesi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheesy¹

1350–1400; Middle English. See cheese ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

"It all had to come from her. I couldn’t be the pop star - as cheesy as that sounds."

From BBC

As part of his application process, he wrote a “sappy, cheesy” personal statement, the memory of which embarrasses him now.

From Los Angeles Times

This could have felt cheesy, and yet I melted, a testament to his genuineness.

From Los Angeles Times

Cooked in ovenproof shells or ramekins, scallops are nestled within a rich sauce of wine, herbs and cream then topped with toasty, cheesy breadcrumbs.

From Salon

"Some of it's a bit silly... some of my lines... you could read them, in a way, cheesy and I was like, OK, this is going to be fun."

From BBC