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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of corny
Smart jokes are funny, while eye-rolling bits get the safety net of being corny as a result of desperate producers trying to juice up their franchise.
—
William Earl, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Yes, this scene is undeniably corny.
—James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
The show itself is a caricature of true crime: a corny narrator, cringe-worthy B-roll, exoticism, and cheesy music.
—John J. Lennon
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Visually rapturous and moving even at its corniest moments, the whole thing is spectacular.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corny
William Earl, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Yes, this scene is undeniably corny.
—James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
The show itself is a caricature of true crime: a corny narrator, cringe-worthy B-roll, exoticism, and cheesy music.
—John J. Lennon
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Visually rapturous and moving even at its corniest moments, the whole thing is spectacular.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corny
Adjective
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That verisimilitude functioned as a solvent, lending credibility and urgency to elements of the show that might otherwise register as pure cheese; the medical realism and sentimental flourishes were mutually reinforcing.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
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Kitsch without meaning is just clutter, so take your time building a look that feels sentimental and nostalgic to really nail the style.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After an awesomely hokey prologue that deprives Det.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
-
However, sometimes managers plan for hokey-cokey transfers or immediately reverse a decision due to regret.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The soft knit fabric drapes just right, giving that relaxed vibe without looking sloppy.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
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Practice had been a bit a sloppy at times, but San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher had a wide smile anyway Thursday afternoon.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 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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Cramer said strong signs from forwarding holiday spending suggest inflation may remain sticky, setting up tension between a president eager to contain prices and consumers who have borne the brunt of inflation.—
Luke Fountain,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
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To keep a tension rod from slipping, look for rods that have rubber stoppers on the ends or that come with sticky wall brackets.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Inside, guests are greeted by the cozy tavern, a cocktail of rustic Adirondack style and modern trappings—the tables adorned in their nightly best, expectantly awaiting patrons.—
Lauren Breedlove,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2026
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The rustic farmhouse-style shelves are a hit with shoppers, who rave about their durability and strength.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cattle—even corn-fed ones—tend to spend much of their life on pasture eating grass, which leads to a lot of methane burps, but growing that grass is not carbon intensive.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
8 Jan. 2025
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Never underestimate a corn-fed basic from Hockeytown.—
Meredith Blake,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“Corny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corny. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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