SAPPINESS Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

sappiness

noun

ˈsa-pē-nəs

Definition of sappiness

as in sentimentality

the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) the over-the-top sappiness of the verse on the Valentine's Day card

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sappiness That means giving the star a chance to be heroic and funny, while adding a dollop of heart that borders a bit too much on sappiness. — Brian Lowry, CNN, 10 Mar. 2022 But if sappiness or shyness aren’t really the show’s thing, sensitivity is. — Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 June 2022 Though the song’s premise has potential to veer into overly-sentimental sappiness, the song’s rich portrayal of key memories keeps it feeling like a vulnerable but respectful tribute. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025 As spoken by one character, that line sounds like del Toro’s credited allies the Coen Brothers, which exposes the snark at the base of del Toro’s left-wing sappiness. — Armond White, National Review, 15 Dec. 2017 The script, by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, is lovely but modest—a tale of Vogel’s personal redemption and self-improvement that could easily come off with the sappiness of a Hallmark special. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2019 The whole thing strikes a less successful balance between Gunn's dark comic side and his inherent sappiness than The Suicide Squad, the best Guardians of the Galaxy movie to not actually feature the Guardians of the Galaxy. — A.a. Dowd, Chron, 28 Apr. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sappiness

Noun

More likely, though, Brown said Jefferson’s stockpiling of gloves reflects his sentimentality toward his wife and possibly other women in the family.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
And what ensues is an hour and a half of aimless, frictionless, inert, and cloying sentimentality without purpose.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Definition of sentimentality

Browse Nearby Words

sapped

sappiness

sapping

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sappiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sappiness. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sappiness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes