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Definition of schmalzy

schmalzy

/ˈʃmɑːlt.si/
schmalz · y
Adverb:schmalzily
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schmalzy Lexical Profile

schmalzy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Excessively sentimental, maudlin, or florid, especially in music, drama, or art; variant spelling of schmaltzy.

Example

"Critics dismissed the holiday movie as a schmalzy melodrama designed to tug cheaply at the audience's heartstrings."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for schmalzy
Antonyms
View all antonyms for schmalzy

Word Nuance & Usage

More commonly spelled "schmaltzy" in American English, reflecting the Yiddish spelling, whereas "schmalzy" aligns closer to the standard German spelling "Schmalz".

• Rhymes for schmalzy

• Nearby Words

schmadribach falls
schmaltz
schmaltzy
schmalzy
schmear
schmidt
schmo

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Yiddish word "shmalts" or German "Schmalz", meaning "rendered animal fat" (especially chicken fat), which came to be used metaphorically in 20th-century American slang for overly rich, greasy, or cloying sentimentality.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Schmalzy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/schmalzy
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