Dictionary

mushy en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈmʊ.ʃi/
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈmʌ.ʃi/

Etymology

Etymology tree English mush Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English mushy From mush + -y.

Meanings

1. Resembling or having the consistency of mush; semiliquid, pasty, or granular.
   • Today, some seafood experts say, the cheaper (though mushier) roe feeds 60 percent of the market. 2003 July 20, Jeffrey Gettleman, “Humble Paddlefish Fulfills Southerners' Caviar Dreams”, in The New York Times:
   • I don't especially like mushy oatmeal.
2. Soft; squishy.
   • Compared with the excellent scroll wheels on the Basilisk V3 and G502 X, the G203’s scroll wheel feels less defined and mushier in its ratcheting. 2024 January 16, Kimber Streams, “The Best Gaming Mouse”, in Wirecutter:
   • The brake pedal is mushy sometimes when I step on it.
3. Overly sappy, corny, or cheesy; sentimental, especially in a romantic way; maudlin.
   • I am sure the hostess will leave off her list men and women who usually drink too much, the woman who gets mushy and tries to steal all the handsomest husbands, the man who offensively would take this opportunity to try to build up sales contacts, […] 1948, The American Magazine, volume 145, page 122:
   • Those flower-bedecked cards being showered today on the male of the parental species may encourage one to ponder, in the mushiest language possible, what it means to be a dad. 2004 June 20, Hubert B. Herring, “OPENERS: THE COUNT; Oh, Dad! So Glad You Had This Lad. A Job, Too? Not Bad.”, in The New York Times:
   • Skip the mushy, romantic scenes and get to the action.
   • The day before she left for college, she and Vicki said goodbye. They exchanged mushy cards and promised to write frequently. 1980 December 6, Cindy Rizzo, “Jewish, Lesbian, Feminist, Psychologist, Author—All of the above and more”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 20, page 8:

Forms

Deriveds

mushiness · unmushy · mushily · mushy middle · mushy peas

Synonyms

smushy · soppy · corny · mushlike · gooey · puddingish · overemotional · schmaltzy · slushy · treacly · spongy · drippy · squooshy · bathetic · porridgelike · puddingy · cheesy · paplike · sickly sweet · sappy · squishy · squdgy · syrupy · sappy · squitchy · pappy · kitschy · grumous · pultaceous · oversentimental · soupy · slushy · pulplike · pulpous · overwrought · soppy · pulpy · pulpous · puddinglike · pobby · kitsch · grumous · maudlin · icky · mawkish · hokey · curdy · mushy · mushy · slushy · mushlike

Translations (37)

de matschig (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · es fofo (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · fr fleur bleue (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · ru слаща́вый (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · cs kašovitý (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · ru мягкий (soft; squishy) · de kitschig (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · cs sentimentální (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · de labberig (soft; squishy) · es sentimental (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · de schwabbelig (soft; squishy) · es sensiblero (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · de breiig (soft; squishy) · mi tāromiromi (soft; squishy) · cs rozměklý (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · ru кашевидный (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · es ñoño (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · es blando (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · fr mou (soft; squishy) · cs limonádový (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · es pastoso (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · cs měkký (soft; squishy) · de breiig (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · de süßlich (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · ru расслабленный (soft; squishy) · fr à l'eau de rose (overly sappy, corny, or cheesy) · fr pâteux (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · es fangoso (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · mi tāromiromi (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · cs rozbředlý (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · de labberig (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · ru полужидкий (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · mi tāhōhō (soft; squishy) · mi tāhōhō (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · de matschig (soft; squishy) · bg кашест (resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular) · ja 柔らかい (soft; squishy)