as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a maudlin movie about a lovable tramp
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of maudlin
While such a scenario sounds potentially maudlin and manipulative, Lucero — who wrote the film from a personal place — never allows that to happen by making the characters complex and flawed, and laboring under real-life issues.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Hoffman and Jonsson are both brilliant, vulnerable in their humanity in the face of such unfathomable conditions, but their repartee does seem forced and often maudlin.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
In his lesser novels, the tragedies are maudlin and the jokes mere punch lines.
—Charlie Lee, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
To his credit, Wax achieves the challenging task of convincingly creating Izzy’s prize-winning poetry, which rings true to the character without being maudlin, arch or pretentious.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for maudlin
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Hoffman and Jonsson are both brilliant, vulnerable in their humanity in the face of such unfathomable conditions, but their repartee does seem forced and often maudlin.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
In his lesser novels, the tragedies are maudlin and the jokes mere punch lines.
—Charlie Lee, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
To his credit, Wax achieves the challenging task of convincingly creating Izzy’s prize-winning poetry, which rings true to the character without being maudlin, arch or pretentious.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for maudlin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maudlin
Adjective
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Multitracked saxophones swarm over a pit of molten bass frequencies, slipping between sentimental consonance—you might momentarily be reminded of Vangelis’ Blade Runner score—and eerie discord.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
25 Mar. 2026
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The church said the statues' monetary value may be relatively small, but their historical and sentimental significance is much greater.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This was a better defensive effort for the Stars than their sloppy defeat Tuesday night at home against New Jersey.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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The Lakers relied on another part-time G League contributor to carry them through a sloppy fourth quarter.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Equal parts creature feature and Florida noir, Mermaid is sticky, sunburned, and defiantly strange.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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Maurer imagines blending the fungi with Martian or lunar dirt; their sticky mycelia would cement it into an extraterrestrial equivalent of particle board.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maudlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maudlin. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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