as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a schmaltzy television commercial featuring a photogenic, perfect family
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Recent Examples of schmaltzy
In the way that Harrison looks to the Bible for models of relationships and drama, Cappa’s Haha, You Clowns looks to schmaltzy sitcoms and after school specials.
—
James Folta, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Its almost schmaltzy final notes are a brilliant companion to Coppola’s unforgettable ending.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
This chicken was juicy, tenderly shreddable and doused in a schmaltzy sauce, an emulsion of chicken fat and stock, landing somewhere in between chicken gravy and milky oxtail broth.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 July 2025
James Folta, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Its almost schmaltzy final notes are a brilliant companion to Coppola’s unforgettable ending.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
This chicken was juicy, tenderly shreddable and doused in a schmaltzy sauce, an emulsion of chicken fat and stock, landing somewhere in between chicken gravy and milky oxtail broth.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for schmaltzy
Adjective
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But Kore-eda is more interested in a smiley-happy outcome of mutual accord, which is pushed into sentimental overdrive by increasingly cloying slatherings of Bandoh’s score.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
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But there’s another side of Lennon that was almost the sentimental counter- reaction to his own cynicism.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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These Amazon finds are made for petite travelers who want to stay comfortable without defaulting to sloppy sweats.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
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Spurs seemed to run out of energy and their passing became sloppy.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
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If a creature is small enough to swallow and not spiny or sticky or otherwise resists Yoshi's tongue, it will be turned into a green egg that's the series standard.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Schmaltzy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schmaltzy. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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