kitschy
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of kitschy
First recorded in 1945–50; kitsch ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Kitschy things are so extremely sentimental that they're a little ridiculous. Your grandma's paintings of big, sad-eyed clowns could be politely described as kitschy. While many kitschy things are considered to be in bad taste, vulgar, or gaudy, there are many who appreciate the emotional overkill of truly kitschy collectibles and art. If you're one of these people, you'll browse happily for hours in a kitschy thrift store, eventually leaving with a print of dogs playing poker or Elvis painted on velvet. Kitschy is from the German word kitsch, "gaudy" or "trash."
Vocabulary lists containing kitschy
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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.
Yes, the chain is kitschy, gaudy and over-the-top.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
We were sitting at a wooden table near the bar at the far end of Bukowski Grill, a kitschy American-style steakhouse, with faux deer heads mounted on the walls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Primm was once one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts, a less expensive, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being closer than Sin City.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
The auction features more than 500 lots of designer clothing, shoes, furnishings, kitschy keepsakes and props straight from the beloved show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
Auntie Fatima marches around the table clockwise, making a sample bag to show us what we are aiming for: a muddle of cheap, kitschy candy.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
