Dictionary

mawkish

adjective mawk·ish \ˈmȯ-kish\

: sad or romantic in a foolish or exaggerated way

Full Definition of MAWKISH

: having an insipid often unpleasant taste

: sickly or puerilely sentimental

— mawk·ish·ly adverb

— mawk·ish·ness noun

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Middle English mawke maggot, probably from Old Norse mathkr — more at maggot

First Known Use: circa 1697

Synonyms: chocolate-box, cloying, drippy, fruity, gooey, lovey-dovey, maudlin, corny, mushy, novelettish, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, slushy, soppy, soupy, spoony (or spooney), sticky, sugarcoated, sugary, wet

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