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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• cheesily adverb
• cheesiness noun

Etymology

Origin of cheesy

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

Example Sentences

Diana Frost, the company’s chief growth officer for North America, said one conclusion was that the product billed in the 1990s as “the cheesiest” could use more cheese.

From The Wall Street Journal

"That's really the only thing to it, and just being a bit in love with life, it's very cheesy."

From BBC

She was convinced most people were sheep — including those who loved the flowery writing and cheesy romance plots of her novels.

From Los Angeles Times

She prints them through a digital service for roughly the cost of a cheesy family Christmas card.

From Salon

Tomatoes are optional, but when included, they give the richness a little lift, a shimmer of acidity against the warm, cheesy backdrop.

From Salon