Mawkish
Adjective
Definition: Sentimental in an exaggerated or false way.
Synonyms: Sugary, Sentimental, Maudlin
Antonyms: Genuine, Sincere, Unemotional
- The movie's attempts at creating an emotional impact felt mawkish and insincere.
- She wrote mawkish love letters to her crush, hoping to win his affection.
- "Mawkish" sounds like "mockish," implying falseness or imitation of genuine sentiment.
- Picture a fake, overly dramatic soap opera scene to represent mawkishness.
Etymology:
The word "mawkish" originated from the Middle English term "mawke," which means "maggot" or "grub." It evolved to describe an unpleasant or nauseating taste or smell. Eventually, it expanded metaphorically to describe sentimentalism that is unpleasant or nauseating.
Historical Usage:The term has been in use since the late 17th century to describe overly sentimental or sickeningly sweet expressions of emotion.
Related Idioms:
"Mawkishly sentimental"
Explanation:Refers to someone or something that displays exaggerated or insincere sentimentality.
Misconceptions:
Confusing "mawkish" with "mawkishness."
Explanation:"Mawkish" is the adjective form that describes something as being overly sentimental, while "mawkishness" is the abstract noun form that refers to the quality or state of being mawkish.