Schmaltz
noun
Overly emotional or sentimental.
The movie was full of schmaltz and clichés
Often appears as...
- full of schmaltz
- dripping with schmaltz
noun
Rendered chicken or goose fat used in cooking.
He cooks the onions in schmaltz for added flavor
Often appears as...
- cook with schmaltz
- add schmaltz
noun
Excessive use of ornaments or decoration in music.
His schmaltz style of playing was not appreciated by all
Often appears as...
- play with schmaltz
- add schmaltz
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
Overly emotional or sentimental.
The movie was full of schmaltz and clichés
Often appears as...
- full of schmaltz
- dripping with schmaltz
noun
Rendered chicken or goose fat used in cooking.
He cooks the onions in schmaltz for added flavor
Often appears as...
- cook with schmaltz
- add schmaltz
noun
Excessive use of ornaments or decoration in music.
His schmaltz style of playing was not appreciated by all
Often appears as...
- play with schmaltz
- add schmaltz
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Excess
Refers to excessively emotional expressions that may feel insincere.
The speech was full of schmaltz, leaving the audience feeling manipulated.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid in Formality
Avoid using 'schmaltz' in formal writing or speaking as it suggests overly emotional content.
In his formal report, he steered clear of schmaltz to maintain professionalism.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
Understand it may be viewed negatively as manipulating emotions for effect.
Critics dismissed the novel's ending as schmaltz, lacking genuine sentiment.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Excess
Refers to excessively emotional expressions that may feel insincere.
The speech was full of schmaltz, leaving the audience feeling manipulated.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid in Formality
Avoid using 'schmaltz' in formal writing or speaking as it suggests overly emotional content.
In his formal report, he steered clear of schmaltz to maintain professionalism.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
Understand it may be viewed negatively as manipulating emotions for effect.
Critics dismissed the novel's ending as schmaltz, lacking genuine sentiment.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Excess
Refers to excessively emotional expressions that may feel insincere.
The speech was full of schmaltz, leaving the audience feeling manipulated.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid in Formality
Avoid using 'schmaltz' in formal writing or speaking as it suggests overly emotional content.
In his formal report, he steered clear of schmaltz to maintain professionalism.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
Understand it may be viewed negatively as manipulating emotions for effect.
Critics dismissed the novel's ending as schmaltz, lacking genuine sentiment.
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Video examples
Dan Barber: A surprising...
True story. True story. By accident. They were looking for an alternative to schmaltz. Gotten sick of the chicken fat. They were looking for an alternative. And they saw in the fall that there was this natural,
Video examples
Dan Barber: A surprising...
True story. True story. By accident. They were looking for an alternative to schmaltz. Gotten sick of the chicken fat. They were looking for an alternative. And they saw in the fall that there was this natural,
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
David Sax
Canadian Journalist
Gribenes have been referred to as Jewish popcorn or kosher pork rinds. It's basically chicken skin fried in schmaltz. They're crispy and mixed with fried onions. I'm telling you, when you have it with chopped liver, it's the most incredible thing because you get this crunch and this surge of chicken flavor.
Quote examples
Vladimir Horowitz
American Musician
For me, the intellect is always the guide but not the goal of the performance. Three things have to be coordinated, and not one must stick out. Not too much intellect because it can become scholastic. Not too much heart because it can become schmaltz. Not too much technique because you become a mechanic.
Quote examples
Jerry Saltz
American Critic
Kinkade's paintings are worthless schmaltz, and the lamestream media that love him are wrong. However, I'd love to see a museum mount a small show of Kinkade's work. I would like the art world and the wider world to argue about him in public, out in the open.
Quote examples
Jamie Hewlett
English Artist
I took a lot of influences from Studio Ghibli, which is the Japanese animation studio that made 'Spirited Away' and 'Castle in the Sky.' They're like the Japanese version of Disney - but without all the schmaltz.
Quote examples
David Sax
Canadian Journalist
Gribenes have been referred to as Jewish popcorn or kosher pork rinds. It's basically chicken skin fried in schmaltz. They're crispy and mixed with fried onions. I'm telling you, when you have it with chopped liver, it's the most incredible thing because you get this crunch and this surge of chicken flavor.
Quote examples
Vladimir Horowitz
American Musician
For me, the intellect is always the guide but not the goal of the performance. Three things have to be coordinated, and not one must stick out. Not too much intellect because it can become scholastic. Not too much heart because it can become schmaltz. Not too much technique because you become a mechanic.
Quote examples
Jerry Saltz
American Critic
Kinkade's paintings are worthless schmaltz, and the lamestream media that love him are wrong. However, I'd love to see a museum mount a small show of Kinkade's work. I would like the art world and the wider world to argue about him in public, out in the open.
Quote examples
Jamie Hewlett
English Artist
I took a lot of influences from Studio Ghibli, which is the Japanese animation studio that made 'Spirited Away' and 'Castle in the Sky.' They're like the Japanese version of Disney - but without all the schmaltz.
Example 1 of 4
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