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

Derived Forms

• ˈmaudlinly, adverb
• ˈmaudlinism, noun
• ˈmaudlinness, noun

Other Words From

• maudlin·ism noun
• maudlin·ly adverb
• maudlin·ness noun
• un·maudlin adjective
• un·maudlin·ly 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

Death, the only long-term certainty for any of us, permeates these episodes, although not in an overly maudlin way.

From Time

Maury brings his queerness to the screen without a filter, and it’s glorious, whether you find him maudlin or not.

From Washington Blade

Not even an actor of Allen’s caliber can elevate material this maudlin.

From Time

In another series, drafting a fantasy football team by the side of a fallen comrade could be sentimental, even borderline maudlin.

From The Daily Beast

Whenever the script seems ready to surrender to maudlin excess, Gosling and McAdams are there to pull it back.

From The Daily Beast

Williams interviewed and profiled four D-Day veterans, showing his sensitive side without ever seeming maudlin.

From The Daily Beast

Also, beyond incompetence, he was meant to be weak, vain and maudlin.

From The Daily Beast

This is a book that cries out like one of his maudlin ditties to be edited.

From The Daily Beast

Before Tom's selfishness, Justice threw away her scales and became maudlin sentiment.

From Project Gutenberg

Both were maudlin drunk and each was trying to impress the other with his wisdom, his repartee and boldness.

From Project Gutenberg

On the crest of some higher waves of consciousness were borne to him drunken shouts, maudlin blasphemies.

From Project Gutenberg

The word maudlin suggests the idea of being ready to weep unnecessarily.

From Project Gutenberg

It's your maudlin gospel-millers who get scared at the chance of kicking.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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