MEANING
Excessively sentimental or tearful, especially in a way that seems self-indulgent or overdone.
Use it for
Use when a display of feeling seems too sentimental for the moment.Show emotion tipping into theatrical self-pity or excess.
Words that belong together
- maudlin sentiment
- maudlin speech
- maudlin self-pity
On the page
The toast turned maudlin when the old recording began to play.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- maudlin
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Usage notes
Usually disapproving, maudlin suggests sentiment that has become excessive or self-indulgent, not merely sincere emotion.
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