Dictionary

hokey en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈhoʊki/ (US)
• audio Midland US
• /ˈhəʊki/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From the verb hoke ("to give an artificial feel to" [from hokum]) + -y.

Meanings

1. (US, colloquial) Phony, as if a hoax; noticeably contrived; of obviously flimsy credibility or quality.
   • When asked for his book report, Chad came up with a series of hokier and hokier excuses.
   • I thought the windshield wiper blades were a little hokey when I saw their cheap packaging.
2. (US, colloquial) Corny; overly or unbelievably sentimental.
   • Terry hated going to the cinema with Pat; she always chose hokey romantic comedies that made him want to gag.
   • 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. 2018, Ling Ma, chapter 4, in Severance, →ISBN:

Forms

Deriveds

hokeyness

Relateds

Hokey Cokey · hokey-tokey · hokeypokey · hokiness · hoke · hokum

Synonyms

mawkish · corny · sickly sweet · treacly · soppy · icky · cheesy · drippy · schmaltzy · overwrought · kitschy · bathetic · squishy · gooey · maudlin · cheesy · slushy · schmaltzy · sappy · overemotional · hokey · syrupy · kitschy · oversentimental · kitsch · soupy · mushy

Translations (15)

es cursi (corny, overly sentimental) · de künstlich (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · de unecht (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · de rührselig (corny, overly sentimental) · nl flauw (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · nl zwak (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · de falsch (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · nl nep (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · de verlogen (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · fr bidon (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · fr mélo (corny, overly sentimental) · nl slap (phony, obviously of flimsy credibility) · de schmalzig (corny, overly sentimental) · nl melig (corny, overly sentimental) · de kitschig (corny, overly sentimental)