adjective
hokey
HOH-kee
Hokey (adjective) means Corny or overly sentimental in a way that feels fake or old-fashioned. Example: “The movie's hokey dialogue made the audience groan.”
adjective
1
Corny or overly sentimental in a way that feels fake or old-fashioned.
"The movie's hokey dialogue made the audience groan."
"It was a hokey love song, but somehow it still worked."
"After the chant, we bowed our heads and closed our eyes, as Bob administered the recitation, part prayer and part affirmation—an ever-changing hokey thing that he improvised on the spot."
— Ling Ma (2018)
"Terry hated going to the cinema with Pat; she always chose hokey romantic comedies that made him want to gag."
How to use hokey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCheesy, corny, or clearly staged for emotional effect rather than genuine.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hokey ending
a bit hokey
hokey humor
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Word forms
- Comparative
- hokier
- Superlative
- hokiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The movie's _____ dialogue made the audience groan.
Etymology
From the verb "hoke" (to fake something up for effect), itself from "hokum."
Synonyms
View more →
schmalzy
sentimental
kitschy
sappy
mushy
bathetic
mawkish
schmaltzy
maudlin
drippy
artificial
contrived
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hokey
See all rhymes for hokey →Frequently asked questions
What does “hokey” mean?
The word “hokey” means corny or overly sentimental in a way that feels fake or old-fashioned. In plain terms, cheesy, corny, or clearly staged for emotional effect rather than genuine.
How do you pronounce “hokey”?
“Hokey” is pronounced HOH-kee (/ˈhoʊki/ in IPA).
How do you use “hokey” in a sentence?
Here is “hokey” used in a sentence: “The movie's hokey dialogue made the audience groan.”
What part of speech is “hokey”?
“Hokey” is an adjective.
