Mawkish — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈmȯ-kish/ mawk·ish

Meaning & Definition of Mawkish

Mawkish (adjective)

  1. lacking flavor or having an unpleasant taste
  2. exaggeratedly or childishly emotional

Mawkish (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way

    "a mawkish plea for donations to the charity"

    similar: chocolate-box, cloying, corny, drippy, fruity, gooey, lovey-dovey, maudlin, mushy, novelettish, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, slushy, soppy, soupy, spoony, sticky, sugarcoated, sugary, wet
    related: dreamy, misty-eyed, moonstruck, moony, nostalgic, starry-eyed, feel-good, fuzzy, melodramatic, soap-operatic, soapy, sudsy, flat, insipid, soft-boiled, tasteless, vapid, watery, cutesy, twee (chiefly British)
    opposite: unsentimental
    near: unadulterated, unvarnished, antisentimental, cynical, hard-boiled, hard-edged, hardheaded

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mawkish

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mawkish:

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

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Mawkish

Words with the opposite meaning of Mawkish:

unsentimental

Related Words for Mawkish

dreamy, misty-eyed, moonstruck, moony, nostalgic, starry-eyed, feel-good, fuzzy, melodramatic, soap-operatic, soapy, sudsy, flat, insipid, soft-boiled, tasteless, vapid, watery, cutesy, twee

Near Antonyms of Mawkish

unadulterated, unvarnished, antisentimental, cynical, hard-boiled, hard-edged, hardheaded

Word Forms of Mawkish

Derived words: mawkishly (adverb), mawkishness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Mawkish

Middle English mawke maggot, probably from Old Norse mathkr maggot

First known use: circa 1697

Frequently Asked Questions about Mawkish

What does "Mawkish" mean?

"Mawkish" means lacking flavor or having an unpleasant taste. As an adjective, it is defined as: lacking flavor or having an unpleasant taste.

What is another word for "Mawkish"?

Other words for "Mawkish" include chocolate-box, cloying, corny, drippy, fruity, gooey, lovey-dovey and maudlin. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mawkish" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mawkish"?

There are 43 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mawkish". Common alternatives include chocolate-box, cloying, corny, drippy, fruity, gooey, lovey-dovey, maudlin, mushy and novelettish.

What is the opposite of "Mawkish"?

Antonyms of "Mawkish" include unsentimental. Near antonyms include unadulterated, unvarnished, antisentimental and cynical.

How do you use "Mawkish" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mawkish" in a sentence: "a mawkish plea for donations to the charity".

Is "Mawkish" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mawkish" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Mawkish"?

"Mawkish" is pronounced /ˈmȯ-kish/ and divided into syllables as mawk·ish.

What is the origin of the word "Mawkish"?

"Mawkish" comes from Middle English mawke maggot, probably from Old Norse mathkr maggot. First known use: circa 1697.