Definition

Noun: 1. Excessive, exaggerated, or cloying sentimentality: Refers to an overly emotional, maudlin, or tear-jerking quality, especially in art, music, or writing. It implies a lack of subtlety or sincerity, often designed to manipulate emotions in a cheap or obvious way.

Usage

• The word is used to critique creative works (e.g., films, songs, novels) for being overly sentimental in a way that feels insincere or tasteless.
• It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting the sentiment is excessive and artificial.

Examples

• The film's ending was pure schmaltz, with violins swelling as the long-lost family reunited.
• I can't listen to that song; it's dripping with schmaltz.
• His writing avoids schmaltz by portraying emotion with honesty and restraint.

Advanced Usage

• Schmaltzy (adjective): Describing something that has the qualities of schmaltz.
  • The director is known for his heartwarming but often schmaltzy holiday movies.

Variants and Related Words

• Schmaltzy (adj): Excessively sentimental.
• Sentimentality (n): The quality of being sentimental, though not necessarily excessive.
• Maudlin (adj): Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often due to drunkenness.
• Corny (adj): Trite, banal, or mawkishly sentimental.
• Kitsch (n): Art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic way.

Synonyms

• Sentimentalism
• Mush
• Slush
• Mawkishness
• Corniness

Idioms and Phrases

• Lay on the schmaltz: To apply or include excessive sentimentality deliberately.
  • The speech really laid on the schmaltz, talking about puppies and rainbows.

Noun

1. (Yiddish) excessive sentimentality in art or music