1
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a sappy letter filled with silly romantic clichés
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
a sappy plan to try to get her divorced parents back together again
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 sappy
This has reflected neither sappy altruism nor cynical neoimperialism but an understanding that in the modern world, economics and security need to be handled at something beyond the national level.
—
Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2025
Hardly a masterpiece and certainly not a sappy, populist embarrassment, The Shawshank Redemption is simply a solid, good movie — an assessment that will probably annoy people in both camps.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
The sappy Lifetime original is just the latest in the chain's social media marketing strategy.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
Into a routine casting call one afternoon walks Michael, an Ohio ice-cream truck driver effusing sappy memories of watching the series every morning with his family over bacon and eggs.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for sappy
Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2025
Hardly a masterpiece and certainly not a sappy, populist embarrassment, The Shawshank Redemption is simply a solid, good movie — an assessment that will probably annoy people in both camps.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
The sappy Lifetime original is just the latest in the chain's social media marketing strategy.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
Into a routine casting call one afternoon walks Michael, an Ohio ice-cream truck driver effusing sappy memories of watching the series every morning with his family over bacon and eggs.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for sappy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sappy
Adjective
-
Andrew Tate and the U-91 leads the standings coming into Mission Bay, although the sentimental favorite could be Dave Villwock, a longshot entering the weekend in fourth place.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Coel gets her moments to assert her character, a smooth operator who masks a surprising sentimental streak.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Mea Culpa is Perry at his most knowingly silly, and a throwback to erotic thrillers of decades past.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
-
For every community of mass-shooter fandoms, there is another that is silly, joyous, productive, or totally harmless.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
According to San Angelo, some signs of a dirty microwave filter include if they are discolored, sticky, and/or sometimes smell like grease.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Sapodilla, a pear-like fruit that looks like a coconut, adds a malty butterscotch intensity to a sticky toffee pudding.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
And when Sam cooks up a truly stupid scheme to make some quick cash, there’s little doubt a heavy like Mickey isn’t going to like it.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
-
There's a fine line between stupid and clever, indeed.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The three-part Season 5 premiere feels incredibly sloppy to me overall.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
With that history and with Aaron Glenn trying to deliver a message just one game into his head coaching career, Gipson will serve as the example to the rest of the Jets' roster that sloppy turnovers will not be tolerated.—
Michael Hurley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But giving someone as historically great as Derrick Henry added motivation, certainly may prove to be a foolish decision from Delpit.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
There’s highly capable support in the cast from the unfailingly superb Vázquez, emanating gravitas, humanity and barely contained anger at the increasing frequency and spread of wildfires and the foolish refusal of those in power to address the growing threat.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Larsen makes Didi’s absurd actions feel credible, something a woman frustrated with her own life would do, in haste, on behalf of another.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Tim Dollar, a Kansas City attorney who represented the family of one of Biscari’s crash victims, said the union’s argument that Biscari was disciplined unfairly compared to other firefighters was absurd.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Years later narratives about colonization or slavery or the crazy suffragettes always centre on the light and the justice these people fought for.—
Sara Stridsberg
September 15,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Oh, and that rookie receiver with the two crazy catches?—
Christian Romo,
Freep.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sappy. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share