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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Where the most hopelessly corny sayings are painstakingly stitched into the equivalent of cloth graph paper by women who believe in the sayings and give the plaques to people who do not believe in the sayings. — Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 Even the weddings that work overtime to prevent a kind of corniness from slipping in wind up being twice as corny in their own way. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 26 June 2026 Own the fact that this song is epically corny and sounds like ChatGPT vomited into a microphone. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 Something this big and clearly thematic could have been corny and, well, cartoonish. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 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
  • Zendaya’s mom rang in the actress’s 30th birthday with a sentimental Instagram post.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Caregiving is hard work Caregiving for an aging parent is not sentimental.
    — Jim King, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sentimental
Adjective
  • 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
  • Like the hokey gag of Lineker pretending to introduce the show before Woods interrupted.
    — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 21 June 2026
Definition of hokey
Adjective
  • But a 17-point win masked how off-kilter and sloppy the offense looked against the overmatched Huskies.
    — John Talty, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Vaughn Grissom drove in four runs, rookie Walbert Ureña pitched seven strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels ended a seven-game losing streak with a 10-1 victory over the sloppy New York Yankees on Monday night.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • 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
  • Davis and Head make strong impressions, masking the pedestrian, sometimes cornball dialogue.
    — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of cornball
Adjective
  • What comes then isn’t relief or a release but a promise that these characters and their circumstances will remain sticky in your mind.
    — Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Without ventilation, those particles settle on nearby surfaces like cabinets, walls, and countertops, creating a sticky film that builds up over time.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Original barn torn down The original barn was torn down and replaced with a rustic white structure with high ceilings, natural wood beams and enough space to accommodate around 200 guests.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The stone cabins and canteen made of rounded river rocks showcase the rustic, homey appeal of the campground, whose outward appearance had changed little since 1922, according to the NPS.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Corny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corny. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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