variants
or hokiness
as in corniness
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Recent Examples of hokeyness
The direction of Michael Greif and Schele Williams valiantly tries to contain the material’s hokiness without undercutting the wishfulness that lies at the heart of the story’s broad emotional appeal.
—
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
This is a movie about storytelling that both undermines and embraces the whole idea of storytelling, winking at the hokiness of fairy tales while still believing in them — a satire of the Happily Ever After story and also a prime example of the genre.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
This is a movie about storytelling that both undermines and embraces the whole idea of storytelling, winking at the hokiness of fairy tales while still believing in them — a satire of the Happily Ever After story and also a prime example of the genre.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hokeyness
Noun
-
Why bother funneling all of that through Hollywood’s pomp and corniness into a movie that’s only half good?—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Miranda, whose corniness has become a staple meme thanks to Gen Z, seems to be leaning into being an internet fixation.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Look, if this is not enough Oscars schmaltz for you, your bar may be too high!—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Eggs, matzo meal, broth, and schmaltz come together to produce tender, reliably fluffy dumplings.—
Molly Baz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wait until next month to plant corn and okra seeds in the garden — both grow best with lots of heat.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Just mix together a can of enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, chicken, salsa, cilantro, and diced green chiles and let sit in your slow cooker for a few hours before adding in the topping to create a beautiful cornbread crust.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hokeyness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hokeyness. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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