cheesy

adjective

ˈchē-zē How to pronounce cheesy (audio)
Definition of cheesynext
1
as in inappropriate
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste cheesy plastic knickknacks lined the fireplace mantel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheap
of low quality a cheesy watch that he bought from a sidewalk vendor preying on tourists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cheesy Probably a cheesy but heartwarming one about how life can be unpredictable in wonderful ways—and how important relationships can blossom out of the least likely circumstances. — Birdie Horne, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026 One mom in Frederick, Maryland, notes the chewier and cheesier, the better. — Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026 Unfortunately, Winger committed the mortal sins of having a pretty boy lead singer and painfully cheesy videos (even by 80s standards), so most people dismissed them and Beach as cheap imitators. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Tender and filling, this dish is creamy, cheesy, and plenty delicious. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cheesy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheesy
  1. inappropriate
  2. cheap
  3. tacky
  4. terrible
  5. unsuitable
  6. poor
  7. trashy
  8. bad
Adjective
  • Pat is a little bit like an inappropriate uncle at a family gathering in the 1970s.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Montana did not directly answer questions about the decision to choose BCBS over Allegiance and whether there was inappropriate contact among state officials.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of inappropriate
Adjective
  • Culturelle probiotics tend to be cheaper than Align products and are ideal for those with frequent diarrhea.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Birmingham26, the organisers, say that half of their 250,000 tickets — across morning and evening sessions — are £30 or cheaper.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheap
Adjective
  • Both my wife and I always considered artificial flowers tacky and not appropriate for cemeteries, even though lots of people decorate gravesites with them.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Its droplets contain proteins, water, salts and small molecules that help the adhesive remain soft and tacky.
    — Aliasger K. Salem, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of tacky
Adjective
  • That is not saying that her kids are terrible, lazy, ugly, addicted to TikTok, or caught shoplifting at Brandy Melville.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The arena isn’t terrible but is below average by NHL standards.
    — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • When channels are created with unsuitable blades, angles, or placement, transplanted hair may grow in an unnatural direction or produce an overly uniform appearance.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Websites often attract unsuitable clients due to ineffective copy, hindering business growth.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsuitable
Adjective
  • On the other lies a park in one of the Bronx’s poorest communities, built on the site of the former Yankee Stadium after the old home of the Yankees was torn down in 2009 and 2010.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Iran’s economy was in a dire state before the war too, with poor economic conditions a key driving factor behind the anti-regime demonstrations which kicked off in the Iranian capital city Tehran in 2025.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Contrary to their label, these cocktails are more than a trashy afterthought; their flavor pairings are as well considered as any other on the menu.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Supergirl often plays like a poor James Gunn impression, full of trashy space bars, needle drops and slow-motion fight scenes spinning around in a circle.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of trashy
Adjective
  • Sensing a disconnect or worse, a feeling of being forgotten, Campbell this summer invited some of the men who wrote those letters to campus.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Dry weather periods are expected in Colorado, and wildfires tend to be worse during these times.
    — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of bad

Browse Nearby Words

cheeseparing
cheesy
chef
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cheesy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheesy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cheesy

Nglish: Translation of cheesy for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of rigmarole

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All