cornier; corniest
Synonyms of cornynext
1
: mawkishly old-fashioned : tiresomely simple and sentimental
told corny jokes
corny greeting cards
2
: of or relating to corn
3
archaic : tasting strongly of malt
cornily adverb
corniness noun

corny

2 of 2

adjective (2)

cornier; corniest
: relating to or having corns on the feet

Examples of corny in a Sentence

Adjective (1) corny violin music during the movie's love scenes the audience groaned as the emcee told one corny joke after another
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Kate Bosworth is a corny idiot. Ky Henderson, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026 The film’s eccentric flourishes may sound corny, but the writer-directors Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer ground the premise in a deeply sincere sense of yearning. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026 The novel also suggests—mumblingly, without making eye contact, not wanting to be corny about it—that one’s own self becomes a little less hideous the more one attends to other selves. Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 The novel also suggests—mumblingly, without making eye contact, not wanting to be corny about it—that one’s own self becomes a little less hideous the more one attends to other selves. Hermione Hoby, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for corny

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English, from corn corn entry 1 + -y -y entry 1

Adjective (2)

corn entry 3 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective (2)

1689, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of corny was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Corny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corny. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

corny

adjective
ˈkȯr-nē
cornier; corniest
: tastelessly old-fashioned : tiresomely simple or sentimental
corny music
corny jokes

Medical Definition

corny

adjective
cornier; corniest
: relating to or having corns on the feet
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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