Definition

Describing something that is overly sentimental or emotional in a way that is considered unpleasant or excessive.

Example

The movie was criticized for its mawkish portrayal of love, which many found to be unrealistic and overly sweet.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

Did you see that movie everyone is talking about?

Yeah, I thought it was a bit too mawkish for my taste.

I agree! Some scenes felt so over-the-top sentimental.

Exactly! It just didn’t sit well with me.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mawkish → The word originates from the Middle English 'mawkish', which is derived from the Old English 'māwca', meaning 'maggot'. The term evolved to describe something that is overly sentimental or sappy, akin to the unpleasantness associated with decay or rot. Thus, mawkish refers to an excessive or sickly sentimentality.

Memory Tip

Think of the unpleasantness of 'maggots' ('māwca') to remember that 'mawkish' describes something overly sentimental or sickly sweet.

Visually Confused Words