as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a mawkish plea for donations to the charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Then things just unravel into a half-hour of thoroughly phony mawkishness.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mawkish
Adjective
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
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for mawkish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mawkish
Adjective
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The late monarch acquired an impressive jewelry collection over the course of her 70-year reign, from the record-setting Cullinan diamond brooches to the sentimental King George VI Victorian Sapphire Suite.
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Air Jordan 1 releases, which are expected to seriously slow down in volume next year, are getting especially sentimental this summer.
Adjective
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Winning like a Feeney Due to some sloppy defensive errors from the silver-haired infield, the Feeneys allowed more runs in the top of the seventh.
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The Walpole, Massachusetts native, making his second career start at Fenway Park in front of family and friends, surrendered a two-run, go-ahead homer to ex-Yankees prospect Caleb Durbin in the fifth inning of what was a sloppy, 6-3, loss for the Bombers.
Adjective
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The shiny, non-sticky formula is infused with a hyaluronic acid complex, mango seed butter, and fruit extracts to keep lips feeling comfortable.
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Use yellow sticky traps to monitor.
Cite this Entry
“Mawkish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mawkish. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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