cheesy

American  

[chee-zee] / ˈtʃi zi /

adjective

cheesier, cheesiest

1. of or like cheese.

   a cheesy aroma; a cheesy taste.

2. Slang. inferior or cheap; chintzy.

   The movie's special effects are cheesy and unconvincing.

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cheesy British  

/ ˈtʃiːzɪ /

adjective

1. like cheese in flavour, smell, or consistency

2. informal (of a smile) broad but possibly insincere

   a big cheesy grin

3. informal banal or trite; in poor taste

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Other Word Forms

• cheesily
  adverb
• cheesiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of cheesy

1350–1400; Middle English. See cheese ¹, -y ¹

Explanation

Use the word cheesy to describe something that's cheap or badly made. You might hope your fake Rolex watch will impress your friends, but they're bound to see how cheesy it is. A really horrible motel room, with shag carpeting and strange art on the walls, can be described as cheesy, and so can a badly-written, sloppily made television movie. Cheesy is a great informal way to talk about shoddy or slightly unpleasant things. It comes from late 1800's United States university student slang, which also included the term cheese, which meant "ignorant, stupid person."

Example Sentences

Mr. Sokolov styles his work as an homage to 1970s grindhouse cinema, complete with cheesy sound effects, slo-motion, and grandiose musical cues.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

"Trot isn't just cheesy or old-fashioned music," he tells the BBC.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

Soups, stews, cheesy casseroles and creamy mashed potatoes are just a few popular options that come to mind.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

When my spoon broke through the wobbly layer of cheesy bread and resurfaced all gooey and molten, the winter suddenly didn’t seem so bad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

The cheesy bread is awesome ’cause it comes with two dipping sauces.

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle