mawkish

[ maw-kish ]

adjective

1. characterized by sickly sentimentality; weakly emotional; maudlin.

   Synonyms: teary, sentimental

2. having a mildly sickening flavor; slightly nauseating.

mawkish

/ ˈmɔːkɪʃ /

adjective

1. falsely sentimental, esp in a weak or maudlin way
2. nauseating or insipid in flavour, smell, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈmawkishness, noun
• ˈmawkishly, adverb

Other Words From

• mawkish·ly adverb
• mawkish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mawkish¹

1660–70; obsolete mawk maggot ( late Middle English < Old Norse mathkr maggot) + -ish ¹. See maggot

Word History and Origins

Origin of mawkish¹

C17: from obsolete mawk maggot + -ish

Example Sentences

Mawkish flashbacks to Lilith’s late mother are an unsuccessful attempt at building an emotional anchor, coming in too late and with little context.

From Los Angeles Times

The dialogue was more dignified: no brainless chatter or mawkish introductions.

From New York Times

Not to be mawkish, but one of the things I like about the show is that if I saw it when I was 18, I think I would’ve enjoyed it.

From Los Angeles Times

Less good: The awards to actors revived a mawkish conceit in which each nominee is personally addressed by a former winner, and told how great they are, with the two facing each other on a split screen.

From Los Angeles Times

If a prominent Democrat goes off the script, such as Clinton did in 2016 or Obama did in 2008, and responds in kind to right-wing hatred, an enormous moral panic ensues, followed by mawkish bromides about “division” and “coming together as Americans.”

From Salon

Related Words

• cloying
• gooey
• maudlin
• mushy
• sappy
• sloppy
• teary