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Synonyms

schmaltzy

American  
[shmahlt-see, shmawlt-] / ˈʃmɑlt si, ˈʃmɔlt- /
Sometimes shmaltzy also schmalzy

adjective

Informal.
schmaltzier, schmaltziest

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by schmaltz, or exaggerated sentimentalism.

schmaltzy British  
/ ʃmɔːltsɪ, ʃmæltsɪ /

adjective

  1. excessively sentimental

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of schmaltzy

First recorded in 1930–35; schmaltz + -y 1

Vocabulary lists containing schmaltzy

"Men Are Becoming the Ad Target of the Gender Sneer" and "Guys and Dolls No More?"

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Irving was a schmaltzy genius, and his depiction of Columbus as “a brilliant visionary, ahead of his time” was exactly how Americans were beginning to view their own country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

The day's gone downhill, but thankfully here's a new entry in the crowded field of formulaic, schmaltzy, badly acted - and highly entertaining - festive fodder.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2025

“Harry must have longed for the schmaltzy embrace of Oprah!” was the front page of the Daily Mail, a reference to the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

From Reuters • Jun. 7, 2023

“It has a sort of misty, nostalgic, schmaltzy appeal.”

From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2022

Awfully schmaltzy, I know, but it felt right to us then, because we had so much hope—and that was all we had.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.