as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a mawkish plea for donations to the charity
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Recent Examples of mawkish
Knight’s directorial debut never tips over into mawkish but has some unashamedly tender moments.
—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
After a mawkish beginning, the play somewhat redeems itself through earned emotions and an ambiguous ending that begs discussion.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, jailed and banned frequently, has never allowed his work to get mawkish.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
If that line of reasoning is too mawkish and bleeding-heart for your taste, Worsley makes a more pragmatic argument for a generous, welcoming immigration policy, one unsentimentally rooted in cold dollars and cents.
—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mawkish
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
After a mawkish beginning, the play somewhat redeems itself through earned emotions and an ambiguous ending that begs discussion.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, jailed and banned frequently, has never allowed his work to get mawkish.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
If that line of reasoning is too mawkish and bleeding-heart for your taste, Worsley makes a more pragmatic argument for a generous, welcoming immigration policy, one unsentimentally rooted in cold dollars and cents.
—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mawkish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mawkish
Adjective
-
At its deepest level, this work is fueled by unconditional love—not sentimental or passive love but love as discipline, courage and commitment.
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The Freakier Friday star also reflected on turning 40 in a sentimental Instagram post.
Adjective
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England looked disjointed and sloppy for much of the first half, while Congo was bright and creative with the ball and held England at bay defensively.
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The regulars were middle-aged men who routinely drank five or six cocktails after work and were only rarely sloppy.
Adjective
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Through the risk of lightning, sticky humidity and a winding line filled with thousands of chanting fans, Argentine fans flooded Bayfront Park with a sea of blue jerseys.
-
Smoke uncovered for an additional 30–45 minutes, allowing the glaze to caramelize into a sticky, lacquered finish.
Cite this Entry
“Mawkish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mawkish. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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