The Times Literary Supplement (London)
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Twee and Baby Talk
Most adults wouldn't be caught dead saying, "Oh, look at the twee little birdie!" but they probably wouldn't be averse to saying: "He went fishing with his dad," "She works as a nanny," or "Hey, buddy, how's it going?" Anyone who uses dad, nanny, or buddy owes a debt to "baby talk," a term used for both the childish speech adults adopt when addressing youngsters and for the speech of small children who are just learning to talk. Twee also originated in baby talk as an alteration of sweet. In the early 1900s, it was a term of affection, but nowadays British speakers and writers—and, increasingly, Americans as well—use twee for things that have passed beyond agreeable and into the realm of cloying.
Examples of twee in a Sentence
Mary Lebus, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2025
The trends of 2026 will capture the coming year’s vibes, just as the fingerstache summed up the obsession with hipster and twee culture in 2011.
—Marianne Mychaskiw, Allure, 11 Dec. 2025
Boden’s specific brand of preppy-twee style works especially well this time of year—and so much of it is up to 40% off through the weekend.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 30 Nov. 2025
Nestled on 30 private acres in the South Fork of Provo Canyon, the secluded property threads streams and waterfalls beneath stone bridges, across gentle knolls, and under low-hanging eaves, all hinting at a hobbit-house inspiration without ever tipping into twee fantasy.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for twee
Cite this Entry
“Twee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twee. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.
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