cheesy
UK: ˈtʃiːzi | US: ˈtʃiːzi
adj. 1. resembling or containing cheese (literal sense)
adj. 2. overly sentimental, exaggerated, or insincere (often derogatory)
adj. 3. cheap, tacky, or of low quality (slang)
The word "cheesy" derives from the noun "cheese" (from Old English cēse, via Latin caseus) combined with the suffix "-y," which forms adjectives indicating resemblance or characteristic. Originally, it described things literally resembling cheese (e.g., texture or smell). By the late 19th century, it evolved metaphorically to mean "cheap" or "inferior" (like low-quality cheese), later extending to "sentimental" or "tacky" in the 20th century, influenced by theatrical slang ("cheesy" = overly dramatic).
The pizza was too cheesy for my taste.
His cheesy pickup lines made everyone groan.
The movie’s dialogue felt forced and cheesy.
She wore a cheesy souvenir T-shirt from the tourist shop.
The special effects in the old sci-fi film looked laughably cheesy.