corny

adjective

ˈkȯr-nē How to pronounce corny (audio)
Definition of cornynext
1
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way corny violin music during the movie's love scenes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hokey
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated the audience groaned as the emcee told one corny joke after another

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of corny Related Stories Place to Be A corny concept elevated by a major actress. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026 This kind of showmanship, however corny, captures the democratic affection that people have for Lucas and his worlds. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 There’s maybe something profound happening onstage, a celebration of — not to get too corny — life itself, between you and the fans. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2026 Others are stewed with aromatics and oil to make a riotous take on XO sauce, funky and inky and complex, which gilds the hunks of squash under their corny beurre blanc. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for corny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corny
  1. sentimental
  2. hokey
  3. sloppy
  4. cornball
  5. sticky
  6. rustic
  7. corn-fed
Adjective
  • Amid all the festivities, the rapper also offered a sentimental toast.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the audience will wonder if the sentimental pummeling will ever end.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sentimental
Adjective
  • The idea might seem clever, as if the artist has cannily illustrated how the lovey-dovey notion of romance and family is hokey, brain-dead, false.
    — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Its central plot remains conventional, and its demonology — including a hokey expansion involving the mysterious Cult of the Wise Men — routinely functions more as a set piece than as a serious mystery.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Definition of hokey
Adjective
  • Utah's most successful drive ended at the halftime break when Dillon Curtis missed a 34-yard field goalie to a sloppy snap-and-hold.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • And the need to blend all the sound together right before the ear canal can make the more complex instrumentation sound more sloppy than precise.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • His punchy, slightly cornball charm, combined with a winning smile that neatly masked his Nixonian ambition, cemented Mulroney’s status as a modern Canadian politician, someone willing to lead the nation through the 1980s into an uncertain future.
    — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Generations of ski families flocked to his films every fall to get revved up for a new ski season and laugh at his cornball humor.
    — John Meyer, Denver Post, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of cornball
Adjective
  • Her worldwide museum experience had taught her the foibles of museums and academia, but her sense of humor and common sense settled some sticky situations while moving (the museum) as a center for socially transformative debates.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Since Rock Candy came out in February, Mackeeper have continued to churn out sticky songs, and had one of them appear in The Drama.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • With a rustic aesthetic, the cottage is charming and artsy, with antique finds from the owners' travels around the world.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The log-style cabin offers a more rustic counterpoint to the main home’s contemporary design.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of rustic
Adjective
  • Growing up in Brookville, OH, my family would call this kid corn-fed.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
  • The Lycra Company has corn-fed stretch.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of corn-fed

Browse Nearby Words

cornucopias
corny
corollaries
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Cite this Entry

“Corny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corny. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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