mawkish Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite effusively or insincerely emotional
    sentimental; schmalzy; bathetic; mushy; soppy; kitschy; hokey; slushy; soupy; maudlin; schmaltzy; drippy.
    • a bathetic novel
    • maudlin expressions of sympathy
    • mushy effusiveness
    • a schmaltzy song
    • sentimental soap operas
    • slushy poetry

WordNet

Mawk"ish adjective
Etymology
Orig., maggoty. See Mawk.
Definitions
  1. Apt to cause satiety or loathing; nauseous; disgusting.
    So sweetly mawkish', and so smoothly dull. Pope.
  2. Easily disgusted; squeamish; sentimentally fastidious. J. H. Newman.

Webster 1913