Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Corniness: meaning, definitions and examples

🌽
Add to dictionary

corniness

 

[ ˈkɔːniːnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in movies

The quality of being overly sentimental or melodramatic, often to the point of being cliché. Corniness is typically characterized by exaggerated emotions or situations that come across as insincere or artificial.

Synonyms

cliché, melodrama, sentimentality.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
corniness

Best used when referring to excessive or cheesy emotional expressions, often in a playful or irreverent manner.

  • His speech was filled with such corniness that it was hard to take it seriously.
  • The movie's ending was full of corniness, making it more of a comedy than drama.
sentimentality

Used when describing an excessive expression of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia, which can be perceived as insincere or overdone.

  • The book was criticized for its sentimentality, making it a rather saccharine read.
  • Her speech was dripping with sentimentality, which didn't seem genuine.
melodrama

Refers to exaggerated emotional reaction and drama, often seen in theatrical contexts or overly sentimental narratives.

  • The show plunged into melodrama with its exaggerated emotional scenes.
  • His performance was filled with such melodrama that it felt over the top.
cliché

Used to describe an overused and unoriginal idea or phrase, often criticized for lack of originality.

  • The story was just a collection of clichés, with nothing new to offer.
  • Avoid using clichés in your writing to make it stand out.

Examples of usage

  • His speech was filled with corniness, making the audience roll their eyes.
  • The movie's corniness was so exaggerated that it became unintentionally humorous.

Translations

Translations of the word "corniness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cafonice

🇮🇳 सस्तापन

🇩🇪 Kitschigkeit

🇮🇩 kegilaan

🇺🇦 банальність

🇵🇱 kiczowatość

🇯🇵 陳腐さ

🇫🇷 ringardise

🇪🇸 cursilería

🇹🇷 banallık

🇰🇷 진부함

🇸🇦 التفاهة

🇨🇿 klišé

🇸🇰 gýčovitosť

🇨🇳 俗气

🇸🇮 kičavost

🇮🇸 hallærislegt

🇰🇿 арзандық

🇬🇪 ბანალურობა

🇦🇿 banallıq

🇲🇽 cursilería

Etymology

The word 'corniness' originated from the term 'corny', which was first used in the 1930s in American English. 'Corny' initially referred to something simple or unsophisticated, like the rural countryside (cornfields). Over time, it evolved to describe something overly sentimental or trite. The concept of 'corniness' has been prevalent in popular culture, particularly in the context of movies and entertainment.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,045, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.