Sappy Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

😢

Add to dictionary

sappy

[ˈsæpi ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

emotional

Excessively sentimental or emotional, often in a way that seems insincere or exaggerated.

Synonyms

mawkish, sentimental, tearful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sappy	Informal context where something is overly sweet or emotional. Often used to describe movies, songs, or messages that are excessively sentimental. That romance movie was way too sappy for my taste. He wrote a sappy love letter that made everyone cringe.
sentimental	Neutral context where emotions or feelings are expressed in a tender way. Used for describing things that evoke a sense of nostalgia or affection. She kept all her old letters for sentimental reasons. It was a sentimental journey back to their hometown.
mawkish	More formal or literary context, indicating something excessively sentimental to the point of being sickening. Often used in a negative tone. The novel's mawkish sentimentality was off-putting. Her mawkish display of affection made everyone uncomfortable.
tearful	Describing someone who is on the verge of tears or is actually crying. Can be used in both positive and negative scenarios. She gave a tearful goodbye before moving away. His tearful confession moved everyone in the room.

Examples of usage

He always gets sappy after watching romantic movies.
She wrote a sappy love letter to her crush.
Don't be so sappy, it's just a TV show.
The movie was too sappy for my taste.
I find sappy songs quite touching.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Pop Culture

Many romantic films are described as sappy due to their focus on love and emotion, often leading to eye-watering moments.
Songs that are labeled as sappy usually have lyrics expressing deep love or longing.
Hallmark movies are often seen as sappy because they're heartwarming and heavily focused on romance.

Psychology

Sweetness in feelings, like sentimentality, can foster social bonds and create a sense of community.
People often enjoy 'sappy' moments because they trigger positive emotions and memories from their own lives.
Excessive sentimental expression might be linked to emotional vulnerability, providing a safe outlet for feelings.

Literature

In literary critiques, a sappy story is often dismissed for being overly sentimental without depth.
Some authors intentionally add sappy elements to create contrast against darker themes in their works.
Classic romance novels often contain sappy dialogue filled with exaggerated expressions of love and affection.

Nature

The sap of certain trees is used to make syrups, like maple syrup, connecting nature to sugary sweetness.
Trees produce sap as a natural defense mechanism, which can evoke emotions in those who observe this process.
In the animal kingdom, experiencing sweet or sappy interactions often strengthens bonds, like among social species.

Origin of 'sappy'

Main points about word origin

The word comes from 'sap', which refers to the juice of a plant, symbolizing sweetness.
Initially used in the 19th century to describe overly sentimental literature or behavior.
The term can also describe the sticky substance from trees that is naturally sweet.

The word 'sappy' originated in the late 16th century from the Middle English word 'sap', which means 'juice'. Over time, it evolved to describe something overly sentimental or emotional. The term is often used in a derogatory manner to criticize excessive displays of emotion.