mawkishness

noun

Definition of mawkishnessnext
as in sentimentality
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) the grating mawkishness of her poetry makes me want to stamp on wildflowers

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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 mawkishness These films explore those bonds without ever resorting to bromides or mawkishness. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Nov. 2025 Then things just unravel into a half-hour of thoroughly phony mawkishness. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mawkishness
  1. sentimentality
  2. sentimentalism
Noun
  • Drai describes the challenge as knowing what deserves protection and where sentimentality becomes a liability.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Prepare to move on from Dallas Goedert — unless sentimentality is an appeal.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of sentimentality
Noun
  • The Academy historically goes for sentimentalism.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
  • While leaders of the nature-study movement warned against sentimentalism and make-believe, young readers were delighted by such tales.
    — Jessica George, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2025
Definition of sentimentalism

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mawkish
mawkishness
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Cite this Entry

“Mawkishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mawkishness. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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