corny

adjective

ˈkȯr-nē How to pronounce corny (audio)
Definition of cornynext
1
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way corny violin music during the movie's love scenes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hokey
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated the audience groaned as the emcee told one corny joke after another

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 corny This kind of showmanship, however corny, captures the democratic affection that people have for Lucas and his worlds. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 There’s maybe something profound happening onstage, a celebration of — not to get too corny — life itself, between you and the fans. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2026 Others are stewed with aromatics and oil to make a riotous take on XO sauce, funky and inky and complex, which gilds the hunks of squash under their corny beurre blanc. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 Yamal is most likely your favorite player’s favorite player to watch, to steal a somewhat corny adage. — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for corny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corny
  1. sentimental
  2. hokey
  3. sloppy
  4. cornball
  5. sticky
  6. rustic
  7. corn-fed
Adjective
  • The emotions are real; the sentimental orchestral score by Joseph Trapanese goes overboard.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • At times, Marianne’s second-act emotional breakdown feels siloed from the rest of the picture, but the strands coalesce beautifully in an emotionally overwhelming finale that’s tearjerking, but never manipulative or overly sentimental.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sentimental
Adjective
  • The idea might seem clever, as if the artist has cannily illustrated how the lovey-dovey notion of romance and family is hokey, brain-dead, false.
    — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Its central plot remains conventional, and its demonology — including a hokey expansion involving the mysterious Cult of the Wise Men — routinely functions more as a set piece than as a serious mystery.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Definition of hokey
Adjective
  • The YouTube stuff, by comparison, feels sloppy, in multiple senses of the word.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The company built a team largely made up of former journalists and social media experts who have an eye for recognizing generic, sloppy content.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • His punchy, slightly cornball charm, combined with a winning smile that neatly masked his Nixonian ambition, cemented Mulroney’s status as a modern Canadian politician, someone willing to lead the nation through the 1980s into an uncertain future.
    — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Generations of ski families flocked to his films every fall to get revved up for a new ski season and laugh at his cornball humor.
    — John Meyer, Denver Post, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of cornball
Adjective
  • Will Brantley, president of the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said sticky and chewy candies tend to cling to teeth, leaving behind sugary residue that can contribute to cavities.
    — Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Build up of sticky food residue on bottom of ice cream mix coolers and the floor in front of units.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • His creator, an unnamed basket-weaver (Peter Dinklage), braided him as a mate for a lonely virgin, a fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who stomps around her rustic village smelling like sushi and tossing her head back in an Eliza Doolittle guffaw.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Think earthy stone surfaces, deep woods, and sleek modern headboards juxtaposed with the kind of rustic, wooly blankets that would fit nicely into Ralph Lauren’s Colorado ranch.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of rustic
Adjective
  • Growing up in Brookville, OH, my family would call this kid corn-fed.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
  • The Lycra Company has corn-fed stretch.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of corn-fed

Browse Nearby Words

cornucopias
corny
corollaries
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Cite this Entry

“Corny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corny. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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