as in cheese
something that is of low quality but that many people find amusing and enjoyable
The restaurant is decorated with 1950s furniture and kitsch from old TV shows.
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as in kitschy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kitsch
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 17 July 2025
There’s no denying that the second-generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle car tipped the scale toward kitsch, adding flares, spoilers, and a set of cringeworthy decals—available as of 1973 as a $55 option—to an otherwise respectable design.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 June 2025
The lyrical image of a surfer guy ogling a surfer girl is plainly kitsch, but it’s rendered with the seriousness and sadness inherent in really wanting something.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025
Once relegated to niche Etsy corners and cool girls who wear brands like Susan Alexandra and Lisa Says Gah, kidcore has exploded into the mainstream with an unapologetic burst of color, kitsch, and charm — literally.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for kitsch
Adjective
Also warranting a mention is the decor that nods to diner culture without ever careening into kitsch or parody.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 17 July 2025
There’s no denying that the second-generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle car tipped the scale toward kitsch, adding flares, spoilers, and a set of cringeworthy decals—available as of 1973 as a $55 option—to an otherwise respectable design.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 June 2025
The lyrical image of a surfer guy ogling a surfer girl is plainly kitsch, but it’s rendered with the seriousness and sadness inherent in really wanting something.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025
Once relegated to niche Etsy corners and cool girls who wear brands like Susan Alexandra and Lisa Says Gah, kidcore has exploded into the mainstream with an unapologetic burst of color, kitsch, and charm — literally.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for kitsch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kitsch
Noun
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The sandwiches are named with references to art, such as the Van Gogh made with roast beef, fresh dill, Havarti cheese, sprouts and deli mustard on pumpernickel bread; or the hot Picasso made with savory meatballs, provolone cheese and Mama Cosenza’s original Italian sauce on an 8-inch baguette.—
Endia Fontanez,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Flip patties and cook 1 minute; carefully place 2 tablespoons of the cheese on each patty, cover with a transparent lid and cook until cheese is melted and patties are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Read on for 13 kitschy craft ideas that will add nostalgia and quirky fun to your home decor.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Aug. 2025
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This bohemian bedding translates personality without becoming kitschy or distracting.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And in a world filled with junk content, where everyone is a wannabe influencer peddling their lifestyle and products, Tate’s a pretty good pick for learning how to live your life, said 21-year-old John Fitch, who spars at Betiss’ gym a few times a week.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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From genetic junk to evolutionary driver Despite their chaotic tendencies, LINE-1 elements have made significant contributions to reshaping the human genome.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In the nightmare scenes, her makeup takes on a more garish tone, able to imprint an image with the audience, who only sees her for a fraction of a second.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
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In the Kurosawa version, the characters see the house on the hill as garish.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the police headquarters in Denpasar, Bali’s capital, on Saturday as some burned rubbish on the street and police fired tear gas into the crowd.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
1 Sep. 2025
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Pieces of plastic, including bottles, bags, straws and cutlery, make up two thirds of the rubbish found in rivers around the world, according to a new analysis.—
Jamie Hailstone,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That gaudy slash line is almost solely responsible for Alcántara being the September call-up over top outfield prospect Owen Caissie.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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In many of these suburbs, the prevalence of tearing down perfectly sound old single-family homes in order to build often-gaudy new structures has led to proposals to incentivize keeping more of the old housing stock, using tax breaks and other means.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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By contrast, Jeffrey goes out of his way to help the employees, breaking into Mitch’s computer to change their timesheets and stealing a trash bag full of goodies to donate to the toy drive at Leigh’s church.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
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The polyolefins Marks is referring to are what trash bags, plastic wrap, squeeze bottles, and other disposable single-use packaging are made of.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Some of the settings are extremely well chosen and designed, particularly the tawdry Taco Hut law offices (in contrast to the chic modernity of the Tinsley Britt workplace) and a dingy seaside diner where people keep having meetings.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
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Instead, the aspiring influencer and her royal husband are being dragged into the latest tawdry, scandalous mess involving Harry’s dissolute uncle, Prince Andrew, thanks to a new new biography about the disgraced Duke of York.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kitsch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kitsch. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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