sappy

[sap-ee]

adjective

sappier, sappiest 

1. abounding in sap, as a plant.

2. full of vitality and energy.

3. Slang.,  silly or foolish.

4. Slang.,  overly sentimental.

   It’s one of those sappy romantic ballads.

sappy

/ ˈsæpɪ /

adjective

1. (of plants) full of sap

2. full of energy or vitality

3. slang,  silly or fatuous

Other Word Forms

• sappiness noun
• sappily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sappy¹

First recorded before 1100; Middle English sapy, Old English sæpig; sap ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

The film rests in a dismal tone for so long that its gloominess becomes sappy, making the ending feel hackneyed and inevitable.

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He suggested the central pair's friendship "rings false", adding: "What should be piercing, impassioned moments are by turns frivolous and sappy."

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But don’t expect any sappy scenes in public.

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Cluttered with crude “dad humor” cartoons, sappy inspirational wall hangings and peeling travel posters, these intimate spaces are often artless.

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When James Blunt released “You’re Beautiful” in 2005, it quickly climbed the charts around the world, hailed as a bittersweet love song perfect for weddings, first dances, and sappy rom-com montages.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• maudlin 
• mushy 
• silly 
• stupid