corny
UK: ˈkɔːni | US: ˈkɔːrni
adj. 1. (informal) overly sentimental, trite, or clichéd in a way that seems old-fashioned or unoriginal.
adj. 2. (archaic) resembling or containing corn (grain).
The word "corny" originally referred to things related to corn (grain), but its modern informal meaning emerged in early 20th-century American slang. It likely evolved from the idea of rural or unsophisticated humor associated with farmers (who grew corn), which was perceived as outdated or overly simplistic. The suffix "-y" turns the noun into an adjective, emphasizing the trait of being like corn—either literally (archaic) or metaphorically (sentimental/clichéd).
The movie's dialogue felt corny and predictable.
He told a corny joke that made everyone groan.
Her love letters were sweet but a bit corny.
The play's ending was criticized for being overly corny.
(Archaic) The barn smelled of corny harvests from past seasons.