Mawkishness: meaning, definitions and examples
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mawkishness
[ˈmɔːkɪʃnəs ]
Definitions
showing excessive sentimentality
Mawkishness is the quality of being overly sentimental or sappy. It refers to an exaggerated or insincere display of emotions that can come across as fake or cloying. People may describe something as mawkish when it feels excessively sweet or overly dramatic.
Synonyms
cloyingness, sappiness, sentimentality.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| mawkishness |
This word is often used to describe an overly emotional reaction that feels insincere or exaggerated. It has a negative connotation.
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| sappiness |
Sappiness refers to being overly sentimental or cheesy, often in a way that seems foolish or immature. It usually has a mildly negative connotation.
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| sentimentality |
Sentimentality denotes an excessive reliance on tender emotions, often evoking nostalgia or affection. It can be used both positively and negatively.
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| cloyingness |
This term is used when something is excessively sweet or emotional to the point of being distasteful or irritating. It also carries a negative connotation.
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Examples of usage
- Her mawkishness in romantic movies often made her friends roll their eyes.
- The mawkishness of the soap opera was too much for some viewers to handle.
sentimental in a feeble or sickly way
Mawkishness can also refer to sentimentality that is weak or insipid. It describes emotions that lack depth or authenticity, often coming across as shallow or forced. This type of mawkishness may evoke pity or discomfort rather than genuine emotion.
Synonyms
feeble sappiness, insipid emotion, weak sentimentality.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| mawkishness |
Often used to describe an excessive, sickening sentimentality that makes people uncomfortable or annoyed. Typically negative in tone.
|
| weak sentimentality |
Used to talk about sentimentality that doesn't come across as strong or profound, but instead comes off as timid or unconvincing.
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| insipid emotion |
Describes emotion that is bland, lacking in depth or significance. It often feels empty and unengaging.
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| feeble sappiness |
Refers to a kind of weak, ineffective sentimentality that lacks genuine emotion or impact. It can feel like it's trying too hard.
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Examples of usage
- The mawkishness of the movie's ending left many viewers feeling unsatisfied.
- His mawkishness made it difficult for others to take him seriously.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from the late 19th century, with roots in 'mawkin,' which means 'moth-eaten' or 'shabby.' This suggests something that once was good but is now overly sentimental.
- The term combines 'mawkish' (meaning excessively sentimental) with the suffix '-ness' to describe the quality of being mawkish.
- It reflects a transformation in language, where words can gain a negative connotation as society's tastes evolve.
Literature
- In literature, mawkishness often appears in romance novels that rely heavily on cliches and emotional manipulation to evoke tears.
- Authors like Charles Dickens sometimes infused moments of mawkishness into their narratives, establishing a dramatic connection with readers, but it can come off as overdone.
- Contemporary writers often strive to balance emotion with authenticity, steering clear of overly sentimental writing to maintain credibility.
Psychology
- Psychologically, excessive sentimentality can stem from a desire to connect emotionally, but it can backfire, causing discomfort rather than empathy.
- Mawkishness may indicate a lack of authenticity in emotional expressions, often turning others away rather than drawing them closer.
- People respond differently to sentimental situations; while some may appreciate the emotion, others might recoil from the perceived insincerity.
Pop Culture
- Many feel that teen movies often lean on mawkishness with clichéd dialogues and overly dramatic scenes intended to tug heartstrings.
- Songs with overly sentimental lyrics can often become targets for parody, highlighting how some may find excessive emotion unappealing.
- Some iconic holiday films are often critiqued for their mawkishness, blending sentimentality with the holiday spirit but also walking the line of monotony.
Art
- In art, mawkish themes can detract from the intended message, as over-sentimentality risks alienating viewers instead of engaging them.
- Certain romantic paintings that emphasize idealized emotions risk being called mawkish, as they may lack depth in their portrayal of love.
- Performance art can sometimes fall into mawkish territory when strong emotions are portrayed without genuine connection, leading to audience disengagement.
Translations
Translations of the word "mawkishness" in other languages:
🇵🇹 sentimentalismo
🇮🇳 भावुकता
🇩🇪 Sentimentalität
🇮🇩 sentimentalisme
🇺🇦 сентиментальність
🇵🇱 sentymentalizm
🇯🇵 感傷的
🇫🇷 sentimentalité
🇪🇸 sentimentalismo
🇹🇷 duygusallık
🇰🇷 감상적임
🇸🇦 عاطفية
🇨🇿 sentimentalita
🇸🇰 sentimentalizmus
🇨🇳 感伤
🇸🇮 sentimentalnost
🇮🇸 tilfinningasemi
🇰🇿 сезімталдық
🇬🇪 სენტიმენტალიზმი
🇦🇿 sentimentallıq
🇲🇽 sentimentalismo
Word Frequency Rank
At position #40,797, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.