maudlin

[mawd-lin]

adjective

1. tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental.

   a maudlin story of a little orphan and her lost dog.

2. foolishly or mawkishly sentimental because of drunkenness.

maudlin

/ ˈmɔːdlɪn /

adjective

1. foolishly tearful or sentimental, as when drunk

Other Word Forms

• maudlinism noun
• maudlinly adverb
• maudlinness noun
• unmaudlin adjective
• unmaudlinly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of maudlin¹

1500–10; special use of Maudlin, Middle English Maudelen ≪ Late Latin Magdalēnē < Greek Magdalēnḗ Mary Magdalene, portrayed in art as a weeping penitent

Word History and Origins

Origin of maudlin¹

C17: from Middle English Maudelen Mary Magdalene, typically portrayed as a tearful penitent

Example Sentences

And their “don’t waste a second of life” attitude never feels maudlin.

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The book is not unnecessarily maudlin but rather sharply present, which is also simply an accurate descriptor for much of Smith’s life and work.

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I was always worried it would be a bit maudlin, if he just went in and said straight away, “I love you.”

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It wouldn’t be surprising to hear that when Aster catches himself getting maudlin, he forces himself to actively wallow in self-pity until it feels like a joke.

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He’s also invested his protagonist with a self-deprecating sense of humor that keeps his pessimism from veering into maudlin territory.

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Related Words

• mawkish 
• mushy 
• romantic 
• sentimental 
• syrupy 
• weepy