1
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
corny violin music during the movie's love scenes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rustical
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated
the audience groaned as the emcee told one corny joke after another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of corny
The one cool moment in this otherwise corny movie comes when the first asteroid cracks open and a gleaming three-legged fighting machine unfolds, laser firing.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 30 July 2025
Cheering for such idealism used to feel corny; all the cool, caped crusaders had ethical kinks.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Their skepticism is what’s brilliant about Gunn’s take: Contemporary audiences may also see the story of Superman, an alien adopted by Kansan farmers who raised him to use his powers for unambiguous good, as corny.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 July 2025
Still, the director indulges in a few twists that are obvious and a bit corny, especially in the closing act.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for corny
Peter Debruge, Variety, 30 July 2025
Cheering for such idealism used to feel corny; all the cool, caped crusaders had ethical kinks.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Their skepticism is what’s brilliant about Gunn’s take: Contemporary audiences may also see the story of Superman, an alien adopted by Kansan farmers who raised him to use his powers for unambiguous good, as corny.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 July 2025
Still, the director indulges in a few twists that are obvious and a bit corny, especially in the closing act.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for corny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corny
Adjective
-
If anything, his films fight aggressively against a sentimental reading (There Will Be Blood, The Master, Phantom Thread) or pivot so hard into emotional catharsis that the fabric of reality breaks (Magnolia).—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The film benefits from its avoidance of a too-tidy, sentimental outcome, even if some in the audience might be left craving one.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The sloppy play extended beyond the penalties.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The sweater’s hip-skimming length and relaxed cut result in a fit that feels effortlessly lived-in (not sloppy), while its wear-with-anything design is easy to style.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These days, Christmas movies, broadly and charitably defined, seem to be synonymous with the brassy, hokey, sickly sweet sort of fare that has a permanent home on the Hallmark Channel and is in perpetual rotation on Netflix.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
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Flanagan's film leans into some of the hokey aspects of the story that Kubrick rejected in favor of a much colder sort of horror.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Its sheer pink hue and non-sticky texture check all my boxes.—
Sarah Hoffmann,
Allure,
3 Oct. 2025
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That commitment was further emphasized by the addition of Reed, who replaced another sticky corner in Carlton Davis III.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s a fair share of cornball dialogue in Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schulz’s screenplay, as well as an excess of reassuring schmaltz at the fadeout.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2024
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Another scream for this bad, unabashedly cornball line.—
Evan Minsker,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Gooamp Ceramic Essential Oil Diffuser More than 4,000 shoppers just bought this gorgeous diffuser with a matte finish that goes with rustic decor.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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Built in 1878, the rustic dance hall has been part of the community for nearly 150 years and has welcomed country legends like Willie Nelson, George Strait, and Kacey Musgraves.—
Lauren Jones,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Corny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corny. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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