variants
or hokiness
as in corniness
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 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
-
Also, schmaltz, wowing guests with his Chicken Fat Shio Ramen.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
-
What distinguishes Poppy within a subgenre plagued by hambone spectacle is her agility in avoiding schmaltz.—
Eli Enis,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His favorite spots for lunch include Manjar Blanco, a casual farm-to-table restaurant known for its tacos, and Pancho Maíz, which specializes in rustic corn dishes.—
April Long,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The mix does include some peanuts, but there are also Cajun-style corn sticks, roasted corn, almonds, honey roasted sesame sticks, and my favorite component—butter toffee peanuts.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hokeyness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hokeyness. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
