cheesy

American  

[chee-zee] / ˈtʃi zi /

adjective

• cheesier,
  comparative
• cheesiest
  superlative

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

Derived Forms

• cheesiness
  noun
• cheesily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• cheesier
  comparative
• cheesiest
  superlative

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Etymology

Origin of cheesy

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

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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

See Examples For:

cheesy cheesier cheesiest

If I was able to waltz right into NYC’s coveted Carbone without a reservation, I probably wouldn’t think it’s a cheesy, overpriced experience, either.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

And that volatility is what makes the film so exciting, even when it goes full-tilt cheesy.

From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026

Who can fail to love a cheesy horror comedy?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

Taco Bell’s Luxe Value Menu offers 10 items for $3 or less, including a spicy potato soft taco for $1.69 and a cheesy bean and rice burrito for $1.89.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

I could’ve lied and told him the cafeteria burritos gave me stomach cramps, even though I’m smart enough never to eat those cheesy laxative bombs.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

The outfits are cheesier, the cosmetic enhancements less refined, and the McMansions somehow more generic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2024

Delightfully bonkers, and cheesier than a wheel of brie.

From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2023

I think I’m good for another 10 years, at which time I’ll probably have to choose a different location, lest I risk making that particular spot even Swiss cheesier.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 21, 2022

They're fluffier, pillowier, and cheesier, thanks to a combination of cream cheese and ricotta.

From Salon ● Nov. 27, 2021

Thanks in part to cheesier pizzas and more buttery buns, commercial use of those two dairy products was up 4% in the year through July.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2016

“Bad Cinderella” is the cheesiest and crudest of the lot.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 24, 2023

Next to these men in uniform, Alexander Vlahos' aloof wandering artist Charles Lockhart is intentionally difficult to peg and the show's cheesiest new addition.

From Salon ● Mar. 20, 2022

It may be the cheesiest of clichés, but Wilson is wired that way.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 10, 2021

I know that is the cheesiest statement I could ever proclaim, but it does hold some truth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2020

I smile back at the little girl even though that cut was the cheesiest thing I’ve ever seen.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

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