sappy

adjective

ˈsa-pē How to pronounce sappy (audio)
Definition of sappynext
1
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way a sappy letter filled with silly romantic clichés

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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 Not too serious or sappy, but with room for both earnestness and whimsy. — New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026 Maple Trees Maple trees are just as sappy as birch trees, so pruning them when the sap is running can be a messy situation. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026 His insight into character lent itself well to adapting Larry McMurtry’s novel, ensuring that what could have been just a sappy tear-jerker was a mix of rich drama and sparkling comedy. — Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026 What’s the sappy, milky stuff that comes out of specific leaves in Florida that would be on the characters’ skin? — Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sappy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sappy
  1. sentimental
  2. silly
  3. sticky
  4. stupid
  5. sloppy
  6. foolish
  7. absurd
  8. crazy
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 feds gave the state a silly 48-hour deadline to agree to change constitutional law, dump common sense and sequester these 20,000 ballots, if they were even returned, to double-check they were cast by valid voters.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Performed by legends Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, the silly song is a tongue-twister for kiddos, and the titular word, which means ‘extraordinarily good, wonderful’ even made its way into some real deal dictionaries.
    — Stephanie Ganz Published, Parents, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of silly
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
  • But also, the audience is not used to people delivering blunt questions — no matter how stupid the answer.
    — Jade Tran, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Pierce and Kember were born in the same place on the same day, a lore-enhancing coincidence too stupid to make up.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of stupid
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
  • The descent into foolish and self-destructive groupthink provides the drama.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But Ohtani also struck out three times Thursday — made to look foolish in a much-too-familiar way.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of foolish
Adjective
  • As insufferable and absurd as that was, Murphy continued in the middle of the 2026 season, acting like his team's biggest division rival had also not heard of his players who were currently in first place.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • But its ludicrous potential price tag isn’t the only absurd thing.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of absurd
Adjective
  • Life was crazy and the entertainment business was weird and journalism was infuriating.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
  • No single institution, no matter how crazy its employees, could do it alone.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of crazy

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Cite this Entry

“Sappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sappy. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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