kitsch 1 of 2

Definition of kitschnext
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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kitsch

2 of 2

adjective

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 kitsch
Noun
Behind all the kitsch, a certain mythos endures. Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025 Their style saps all the kitsch from beachy design and leaves just the parts that feel traveled, artisanal, and sophisticated. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025 If cozy kitsch, the glow of Christmas lights and an abundance of tinsel are your vibe, head for one of these 11 pop-up holiday cocktail bars around the Bay Area. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 28 Nov. 2025 There is, too, the inherent kitsch in reducing one of the richest, most intellectually prismatic works in English literature to an instrument of healing. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kitsch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kitsch
Noun
  • Goat cheese with prosciutto and arugula is my pairing of choice.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
  • High-protein mac and cheese like Goodles is both nutritious and delicious.
    Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The vibe nods to retro Palm Beach—think kitschy neon signs and plenty of spots to lounge—while the menu covers cocktails, shareable drinks, and solid bar food.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Yes, there is still plenty of kitschy crap in the system.
    Faran Krentcil, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Safety and health worries have long surrounded landfills in many cities and towns in the Philippines, especially ones near poor communities whose residents scavenge for junk and leftover food in the garbage heaps, the AP points out.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • His wife’s body was discovered by a man who was working on the property to clear out junk ahead of the property’s sale.
    Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s also a kind of garish showiness that the Academy isn’t immune to.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Jones is more outgoing, has a silly laugh and is a former first-round pick who wears garish suits on game day.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Piles of human scraps offer a bottomless buffet to wildlife, and to access that bounty, animals need to be bold enough to rummage through human rubbish but not so bold as to become a threat to people.
    Marina Wang, Scientific American, 14 Nov. 2025
  • Helga once wrestled down a drunk fisherman in the Café, a man of above-average size, and then threw him out like a piece of rubbish; Jens thus transfers most of his weight automatically to her; who is this kid, by the way?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Classic and chic, it’s designed with an oversized silhouette that makes just enough of a statement without looking gaudy.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Beck has not put up gaudy passing numbers in the Hurricanes’ two College Football Playoff victories.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Tourists are urged to lock up their food and trash, and anglers instructed to bury any bait that may attract scavengers.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Transcripts from nearly a century ago show a city meeting where concerns were voiced about sharp pieces of wood on the south ramp of the pier causing injury to beachgoers who were seeking first aid, sweeping currents pushing people into the pier and trash left behind by the influx of visitors.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • His license was not renewed after a rather tawdry incident in Newburyport last July 2.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The tawdry, twisty series is based on Alice Fenney's 2020 best-selling novel.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Kitsch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kitsch. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

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