SCHMALTZINESS Meaning and
Definition
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Schmaltziness refers to a quality or characteristic, often attributed to certain artistic works, that is marked by excessive sentimentality, romanticism, or emotional manipulation. Derived from the Yiddish word "schmaltz," meaning rendered chicken fat or grease, the term has come to describe an exaggerated or overly maudlin display of emotions or sentimental content. It is often used to criticize creative works that manipulate the audience's emotions in an unsubtle or cheap manner, lacking in genuine depth or authenticity.
Schmaltziness can commonly be found in various forms of art, such as movies, songs, literature, or even advertisements, where emotional scenes or narratives are designed to elicit an exaggerated response from the audience. This can include an abundance of saccharine portrayals of love, excessive tear-jerking moments, contrived happy endings, or cloying phrases and expressions meant to evoke an emotional reaction.
While some individuals may appreciate schmaltziness and find it heartwarming or comforting, others may view it as shallow, insincere, or manipulative. As such, the term is often used subjectively, varying depending on personal taste and cultural context.
In summary, schmaltziness refers to an excessive display of sentimentality or emotional manipulation in creative works, often criticized for being superficial, cloying, or lacking authenticity.
Common Misspellings for SCHMALTZINESS
- achmaltziness
- zchmaltziness
- xchmaltziness
- dchmaltziness
- echmaltziness
- wchmaltziness
- sxhmaltziness
- svhmaltziness
- sfhmaltziness
- sdhmaltziness
- scgmaltziness
- scbmaltziness
- scnmaltziness
- scjmaltziness
- scumaltziness
- scymaltziness
- schnaltziness
- schkaltziness
- schjaltziness
- schmzltziness
Etymology of SCHMALTZINESS
The word "schmaltziness" is derived from the Yiddish word "shmaltzn" or "shmaltz", which means rendered animal fat, particularly chicken fat. In Yiddish, "shmaltz" is also used metaphorically to describe something excessively sentimental, melodramatic, or overly emotional. The English suffix "-iness" is added to indicate the quality or state of being associated with schmaltz, resulting in the word "schmaltziness". It is often used to describe works of art, music, literature, or performances that are excessively sentimental or trite.
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