Corny
/ˈkɔːrni/
Definitions
Trite, hackneyed, or excessively sentimental; characterized by clichéd phrases or situations.
/ˈkɔːrni/
Excessively sentimental or trite
The jokes in the sitcom were so corny that I couldn't help but laugh.
💡 Simply: Ever see a movie or hear a joke that's trying too hard to be sweet or funny, but it just makes you cringe? That's corny! Like, think of a love scene with cheesy music and predictable dialogue.
👶 For kids: Something is corny when it's trying too hard to be nice or funny and it's kind of silly.
More Examples
He gave her a corny poem he wrote himself.
How It's Used
"That movie was so corny, I almost walked out."
"The film's plot was criticized for being predictable and corny."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
cornball
Similar to corny; overly sentimental or cheesy, often in a humorous way.
"His cornball jokes always cracked me up, even if they were terrible."
From earlier usage meaning 'rustic' or 'old-fashioned', derived from 'corn' (as in, things related to the countryside and simple ways). It developed to signify something excessively sentimental or trite.
The term has been used since the early 20th century to describe things that are simple or rustic and later evolved to signify a more negative connotation about being trite or over-the-top sentimental.
Memory tip
Think of corn on the cob – it's simple, sometimes predictable, and can feel a bit overly sweet or basic.
Word Origin
"Originally related to 'corn', representing the simple, rural, or unsophisticated."