Mawkish

adjective

Possessing overly dramatic or pathetic elements, enough to cause aversion
Having a repulsive or weak taste or smell

Usage

Have you ever felt bombarded by the seemingly unending train of sappy movies that plays every February? You can surely turn off the television, but it's much harder to run away from your girlfriend, who is pleading with you to watch the newest Nicholas Sparks film. Many people cringe when they are subjected to a mawkish scene or display; however, you don't have to look far to find someone who adores that lovey-dovey stuff! Maybe it's the perfect-ness of the story or the bliss of romance that attracts the masses, but we can be grateful that these mawkish events don't make their way into our daily lives (unless you want your boyfriend to take notes).

Mawkish can be used to describe someone or something that is overly emotional or sensitive. An important characteristic of a mawkish display of affection is that it is so syrupy and sentimental that it is (almost) disgusting to onlookers. To a child, a grandmother's sloppy kiss might feel like an unnecessary mawkish gesture. On a more romantic note, a suitor's sickeningly sweet poem or song would be mawkish to say the least. Although the word is often used in the context of love and fondness, mawkish can also denote a nauseating sob story that shamelessly tugs at our heartstrings. A long, drawn out commercial depicting the hardships of a boy who lost his ferret might reach this level of saccharinity, especially if it ends with a 1-800 number ready to receive donations. Whether the show of emotion is false, or just really that mushy, it's hard to take someone seriously when they or their actions seem mawkish.

In a somewhat archaic usage, mawkish can refer to something that is bland or slightly repulsive to the nostrils or taste buds. Many morning people despise the taste (sometimes even the thought!) of mawkish, lukewarm coffee. If it's the only thing on the table, you may have to push through a mawkish meal, e.g. unseasoned liver, or maybe collared greens without dressing. Some things may even have a mawkish smell, like Limburger cheese, but actually taste pretty good! You probably won't wish to eat anything mawkish, but since it's only mildly revolting you might have to if you don't want to offend your aunt!

Example: Aunt Eleanor's unbearable cheek-pinching is mawkish at best.

Example: The inexperienced writer penned a mawkish story of clichéd happily-ever-afters.

Example: He sprang into mawkish serenades to woo her, right in the middle of the restaurant.

Origin

As strange as it may seem, the word mawkish comes to us originally from the Proto Germanic word for "worm" and, later, the Middle English word mawk, meaning "maggot or grub." One has to wonder how on earth a little bug or larva came to mean embarrassingly sentimental - though sometimes it's easy to imagine a connection between a stomach-turning creepy-crawly and nauseating PDA!

Derivative Words

Mawkishly: This adverb is used to signify something that is done in a sappy, or foolish way.

Example: She mawkishly begged him for a second chance for their relationship.

Mawkishness: This noun refers to the ideas of weepiness or slushiness in regards to emotion.

Example: Alfred's surprise for Mother's Day was an embarrassing display of mawkishness.

In Literature

From the Prologue of Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer:

When the sweet maid is laid upon the bier,
Shuter and I shall be chief mourners here.
To her a mawkish drab of spurious breed,
Who deals in sentimentals, will succeed!

David Garrick, the author of this prologue, is in the midst of mourning the death of comedy, also known in his day as the "Comic Muse." In his depressed state, Garrick envisions comedy as a woman on her deathbed who has been given overly emotional, or mawkish, sustenance to keep her alive. These sappy substitutions have only served to hasten her departure, and Garrick has frail hopes that Goldsmith's novel will resuscitate the Muse.

From J.K. Rowling's Half Blood Prince:

DUMBLEDORE: Oh, Harry.
You need a shave, my friend.
You know, at times, I forget how much you've grown.
At times, I still see the small boy from the cupboard.
Forgive my mawkishness, Harry.
I'm an old man.
HARRY: You still look the same to me, sir.

Before their adventure to destroy one of the remaining horcruxes, Professor Dumbledore takes a moment to reflect on how much the boy who lived had changed. Dumbledore's sentimentality, or mawkishness, only lasted for a brief time as the two then prepare to begin their challenging task.

Mnemonic

Romantic schlock looks mawkish.
A mawkish display might demolish your chances.