variants
or schlocky
also shlock
or shlocky
as in cheap
of low quality
a tourist trap selling schlock souvenirs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of schlock
Quentin Tarantino’s outrageous revisionist Western is wildly over-the-top, combining the director’s penchant for gratuitous violence and sparkling dialogue with a story that’s pleasingly labyrinthine but nothing if not schlocky.
—
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
But that shift is still recent, and decades of cultural baggage — from sexist slasher stereotypes to schlocky late-night programming — continue to shape perception.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026
For every schlocky, derivative entry, there’s one that endures.
—Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
The film finally returns to Dracula’s castle, where four stone gargoyles come to life, and where there is bad swordplay, schlocky cannon fire, and a fortune-cookie theological lecture from Waltz’s Priest.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026
Gonzo attempts a wild stunt; Fozzie makes a few schlocky jokes; Bunsen and Beaker are working in the laboratory with unfortunate consequences.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
In one of the most heartwarming sequences a flashback shows these young film buffs shooting one of their shlocky Big Foot-esque monster movies.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
For one thing, it was produced for half a million dollars, resulting a charmingly schlocky and handmade product that greatly appealed to kids hoping to get into the business one day.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Macon Blair’s update to the legendarily schlocky Troma classic played Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest two years ago and earned praise from genre fans for its wacky humor, its social critiques of modern America, and Peter Dinklage’s performance as Winston Gooze, the new Toxic Avenger.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
But that shift is still recent, and decades of cultural baggage — from sexist slasher stereotypes to schlocky late-night programming — continue to shape perception.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026
For every schlocky, derivative entry, there’s one that endures.
—Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
The film finally returns to Dracula’s castle, where four stone gargoyles come to life, and where there is bad swordplay, schlocky cannon fire, and a fortune-cookie theological lecture from Waltz’s Priest.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026
Gonzo attempts a wild stunt; Fozzie makes a few schlocky jokes; Bunsen and Beaker are working in the laboratory with unfortunate consequences.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
In one of the most heartwarming sequences a flashback shows these young film buffs shooting one of their shlocky Big Foot-esque monster movies.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
For one thing, it was produced for half a million dollars, resulting a charmingly schlocky and handmade product that greatly appealed to kids hoping to get into the business one day.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Macon Blair’s update to the legendarily schlocky Troma classic played Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest two years ago and earned praise from genre fans for its wacky humor, its social critiques of modern America, and Peter Dinklage’s performance as Winston Gooze, the new Toxic Avenger.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for schlock
Adjective
-
Cars were exciting, efficient, and relatively cheap.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Its aggressive marketing strategy persuades users to buy a vast range of items at cheaper prices.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Now, nearly two years later, the school finds itself in a terrible spot, as accusations of serious misconduct arise and an investigation by the athletic department heats up.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
And, betting on terrible outcomes doesn't signify what the better actually wants to happen.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Injuries to key players on the Amazin’s contributed to some poor numbers as well.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Although poor students are disproportionately likely to receive special education in New York City, well-off disabled kids are the ones most acutely driving up the budget.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Investors have also questioned the commercial viability of Novo's pipeline, such as its next-generation drug CagriSema, which was shown to be inferior to Zepbound in Novo's own study earlier this year.—
Elsa Ohlen,Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
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Millwall must win to capitalise on any points dropped by Ipswich, thanks to that vastly inferior goal difference, while Middlesbrough’s hopes of gatecrashing the top two are also dependent on securing all three points.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to its lowest level ever recorded, as war in the Middle East caused all demographic groups across age, income, and political party to feel rotten, prior to the announcement of the ceasefire.—
Jill Schlesinger,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
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Too much water can lead to rotten roots or fungal infections.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Or worse, to turn it into a sort of prison sentence.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Still, from his horns and tattoos to the double-bladed lightsaber, Maul's bad-guy chic was hard to beat.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Schlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schlock. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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