schmaltzy
UK[ˈʃmæltsi]US[ˈʃmæltsi]
adj
excessively sentimental, emotional, or maudlin, especially in art or music.
Etymology
the word 'schmaltzy' entered english in the 1930s from yiddish 'shmaltsik', which means 'like fat' or 'greasy'. the yiddish term derives from 'shmalts', meaning 'melted fat' or 'drippings', which itself comes from middle high german 'smalz'. the semantic evolution is vivid: from the literal sense of 'melted fat' or 'richness', it developed a figurative meaning in yiddish for excessive sentimentality, much like something overly rich or cloying. english borrowed this figurative sense directly to describe art, music, or writing that is cloyingly sentimental. the '-y' suffix is an english adjectival addition to the borrowed yiddish base 'schmaltz'.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from yiddish, adapted into english. it is not productively formed from separable english morphemes.
Examples
the film's ending was so schmaltzy that some viewers rolled their eyes.
he avoided the radio station that played schmaltzy love songs from the 1950s.
her writing style can be charming, but it sometimes veers into the schmaltzy.