cheesiness
Low-brow appeal factor
Cheesiness is the quality of being cheap, tacky, or excessively sentimental in a way that lacks sophistication.
It applies to entertainment, décor, romantic gestures, or anything that tries too hard: The cheesiness of the love scene made everyone groan.
The word often carries affection alongside criticism—something can be enjoyable precisely because of its cheesiness.
Low-budget, low-quality film
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
- parodySatirical imitation
- over-the-topExcessively dramatic or extravagant
- hammyExcessively theatrical in style
cult classic · slapstick · burlesque · farce · pastiche · zany · vaudeville · pulp
Excessively and insincerely sentimental
- cornyTiresomely sentimental or trite
- sappyExcessively sentimental
- maudlinExcessively tearful sentiment
- syrupyExcessively sweet or sentimental
saccharine · gushy · overwrought · tearjerker · heartstrings · schmaltz · sob story · mushy
Overused and unoriginal
- overusedEmployed too frequently
- predictableAble to be foreseen
- unoriginalNot new or novel
- formulaicFollowing a set template
trite · platitude · stock · derivative · worn-out · shopworn · threadbare · bromide
B-movie
Low-budget, low-quality film
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
- parodySatirical imitation
- over-the-topExcessively dramatic or extravagant
hammy · cult classic · slapstick · burlesque · farce · pastiche · zany · vaudeville · pulp · schlock
schmaltzy
Excessively and insincerely sentimental
- cornyTiresomely sentimental or trite
- sappyExcessively sentimental
- maudlinExcessively tearful sentiment
syrupy · saccharine · gushy · overwrought · tearjerker · heartstrings · schmaltz · sob story · mushy · lovey-dovey
hackneyed
Overused and unoriginal
- overusedEmployed too frequently
- predictableAble to be foreseen
- unoriginalNot new or novel
formulaic · trite · platitude · stock · derivative · worn-out · shopworn · threadbare · bromide · cornball
gaudy
Tastelessly ornate
loud · showy · cheap · chintzy · glitzy · kitschy · ostentatious · vulgar · brash · crass
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- Kitschkitsch, kitschy, tacky, gaudy, garish
- sentimentalitymawkish, schmaltzy, saccharine, treacly, cloying
- camphigh camp, kitsch, theatricality, flamboyance, exaggeration
- uncool traitsnerdiness, geekiness, awkwardness, lameness, dorkiness
cheesinesssophistication
Cultured elegance and complexity
elegance · refinement · subtlety · polish · cultivation
cheesinessauthenticity
Quality of being genuine
genuineness · sincerity · earnestness · emotional depth · realness
cheesinessoriginality
Novel creative quality
freshness · inventiveness · creativity · novelty · innovation
cheese, cheesy, cheeses, cheesecake, cream cheese, cheeseburger, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, casein