1
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a sappy letter filled with silly romantic clichés
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
a sappy plan to try to get her divorced parents back together again
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sappy
This has reflected neither sappy altruism nor cynical neoimperialism but an understanding that in the modern world, economics and security need to be handled at something beyond the national level.
—
Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2025
Hardly a masterpiece and certainly not a sappy, populist embarrassment, The Shawshank Redemption is simply a solid, good movie — an assessment that will probably annoy people in both camps.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
The sappy Lifetime original is just the latest in the chain's social media marketing strategy.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
Into a routine casting call one afternoon walks Michael, an Ohio ice-cream truck driver effusing sappy memories of watching the series every morning with his family over bacon and eggs.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for sappy
Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2025
Hardly a masterpiece and certainly not a sappy, populist embarrassment, The Shawshank Redemption is simply a solid, good movie — an assessment that will probably annoy people in both camps.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
The sappy Lifetime original is just the latest in the chain's social media marketing strategy.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
Into a routine casting call one afternoon walks Michael, an Ohio ice-cream truck driver effusing sappy memories of watching the series every morning with his family over bacon and eggs.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for sappy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sappy
Adjective
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Then, as those kids grew up and, inevitably, got sentimental about their childhood, the diner adopted a standard set of surface-level signifiers and effectively turned itself into a nostalgia factory.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
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Though the song’s premise has potential to veer into overly-sentimental sappiness, the song’s rich portrayal of key memories keeps it feeling like a vulnerable but respectful tribute.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Teenagers with faces painted green — some with blow up green sumo-wrestler suits — and mountains of silly string take over the streets.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
22 Sep. 2025
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What made the moment extra-special, though, was seeing Noah's silly side shine through.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In nearby Thai Town, don’t miss sai ua and khao soi at Amphai Northern Thai Food, followed by mango sticky rice at Bhan Kanom Thai.—
Emily Wilson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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An attentive banker can help monitor the progress of legal documentation, serving as an intermediary in case there are any sticky business issues.—
Frank Williamson,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Jimmy Kimmel said something stupid and should apologize.—
Jesse Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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Yeah, stupid s--- like this apparently is gonna keep happening for the next three years.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Manning was inconsistent through the air, and the Longhorns were sloppy in some areas, but their defense limited UTEP's offense, giving Texas enough to pull away.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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Bad salad kits have sloppy cuts of vegetables, meager toppings and oily or single-note dressings that are either too salty or just plain bland.—
Jolene Thym,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The pattern of blaming star players, whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Marcus Rashford, is looking foolish, and the side has plummeted in form.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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That’s penny wise, not pour foolish.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Larsen makes Didi’s absurd actions feel credible, something a woman frustrated with her own life would do, in haste, on behalf of another.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
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Tim Dollar, a Kansas City attorney who represented the family of one of Biscari’s crash victims, said the union’s argument that Biscari was disciplined unfairly compared to other firefighters was absurd.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The only thing that may be crazier than the actual football life is this satirical comedy-drama that has more to do with a hedonistic existence than play-action passes.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
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And yet, the craziest thing to me is having a little autonomous robot doing my yard work.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sappy. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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