mawkishness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

All that signaling serves to diminish the impact of a not unanticipated “shock” denouement that strives for poignancy but ultimately flirts with mawkishness.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2022

The Alcott verses, with their references to “Christmas fairies” and “chanting cherubs,” supply most of the mawkishness.

From Washington Post • Nov. 28, 2017

But where the execution of those storylines has garnered some criticism for moments of mawkishness or overwrought dialogue, it’s more successful in its honest depiction of cancer—or, at least, one specific cancer story.

From Time • Nov. 10, 2015

After a tragedy “Parked” collapses into sentimentality that not even an actor of Mr. Meaney’s dignity and restraint can redeem from mawkishness.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2012

Among the many small personalities, one man follows only the ideal of mercy, and as his mercy has not in it the stern stuff of justice, it degenerates into mawkishness and sentimental humanitarianism.

From A Critical History of Greek Philosophy by Stace, W. T. (Walter Terence)