sappy
Americanadjective
-
abounding in sap, as a plant.
-
full of vitality and energy.
-
Slang. silly or foolish.
-
Slang. overly sentimental.
It’s one of those sappy romantic ballads.
adjective
-
(of plants) full of sap
-
full of energy or vitality
-
slang silly or fatuous
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of sappy
First recorded before 1100; Middle English sapy, Old English sæpig; see sap 1, -y 1
Explanation
Something sappy lacks substance. It's silly, foolish, and overly sentimental. Have you ever heard someone refer to a sappy song? That's not a compliment, because anything sappy is considered cheesy, saccharine, clichéd, ludicrous, or goofy. Serious or excellent art would never be called sappy. Greeting cards are often sappy, as is someone saying "I wuv you" to his dog. In the 1550s, sappy meant "full of vitality," but by the end of the 1600s its meaning changed to "foolishly sentimental," possibly influenced by the stickiness of sap.
Vocabulary lists containing sappy
Sickly Sweet Treats: Sappy and Insincere Valentine Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Fast Pitch
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Words to Describe a Movie
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Silly but not sappy, “Project Hail Mary” doesn’t gin up much suspense over whether anything bad will happen.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026
He suggested the central pair's friendship "rings false", adding: "What should be piercing, impassioned moments are by turns frivolous and sappy."
From BBC • Nov. 19, 2025
When James Blunt released “You’re Beautiful” in 2005, it quickly climbed the charts around the world, hailed as a bittersweet love song perfect for weddings, first dances, and sappy rom-com montages.
From Salon • May 31, 2025
For decades, the powers that be have told a very specific narrative about us: triumphalist and trite, self-congratulatory and sappy, while staying far away from our difficult parts.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2024
It’s silly and sappy and teen-movie-ish, but who cares?
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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.
