schmaltziness

Etymology

From schmaltzy + -ness.

Why this word is great

**SCHMALTZINESS** (noun) — The quality of being cloyingly sentimental, like chicken fat rendered into emotional syrup. From Yiddish *shmalts* ("melted fat, excessive sentimentality") + English *-iness* (forming abstract nouns denoting a state or quality). Unlike *pathos* with its dignified sorrow or *tenderness* with its quiet authenticity, schmaltziness piles on the emotional lard—think violin swells at puppy reunions, soap opera deathbed confessions, or love letters that rhyme "moon" with "June" twice per stanza. It's the glitter of genuine feeling, applied thick enough to make even sincerity stick to your teeth.

noun

  1. The quality or state of being schmaltzy.“There’s an occasional schmaltziness, aggravated by the overuse of a twangy score, but more than enough moments of genuine heartbreak, joy and suspense to make up for it.”