cheesy

Adjective

cheesy (comparative cheesier, superlative cheesiest)

1. Of or relating to cheese.
   • This sandwich is full of cheesy goodness.

   Synonyms:

   caseic

2. Resembling or containing cheese.
   • Near-synonym: cheesen (“made of cheese”)
   • a cheesy flavor; cheesy nachos

   Synonyms:

   caseic, cheeselike, cheesen

3. (informal) Overdramatic, excessively emotional or clichéd, trite, contrived.
   • a cheesy song; a cheesy movie
   • The cheesy antics had everyone giggling.

   Synonyms:

   cheeseball, corny, tacky, overdone, played out, bathetic, squishy, drippy, gooey, hokey

4. (informal) Cheap, of poor quality.
   • He would be apprenticed to some cheesy shop or become a clerk in an office and his entire life he would be one of the ordinary poor people, whom he despised and wanted to surpass.1968, Hermann Hesse, chapter 1, in Michael Roloff, Bantam Books, transl., Beneath the Wheel, published 1970, page 30
   • I tagged along behind this culturally accomplished beast intelligence in my scuffed handmedown shoes, unpressed illfitting post adolescent suit, dirt ringed shirt and cheesy tie, hair askew and book underarm, perspiring perhaps.1977, Allen Ginsberg, “June 17, 1952”, in Gordon Ball, editor, Journals: Early Fifties, Early Sixties, New York: Grove Press, page 19

   Synonyms:

   el cheapo, low-end, lousy, second-rate, tatty, bargainous, brand X, budget, cheap, cheapie

5. Exaggerated and likely to be forced or insincere. (of a smile or grin)
   • Needless to say, toward the end of Martin's first term, the relationship he once enjoyed with President Waverly had evolved into a slapdash charade of cheap promises and cheesy smiles.2008, Jeff Spanke, Second Hand Out, page 86
   • There is something about 5- and 6-year-olds that makes them ever-ready to pose with the big, cheesy grin with no provocation.2012, Ginny Felch, Photographing Children Photo Workshop
6. Constituting or involving a technique considered unsporting or inelegant.
   • The Abyss is a bit worrisome, but what with the teleport control, you should be able to handle Pan. Just in case, I'll remind you that a) you can't be banished from a Labyrinth, b) you can't be banished if you're levitating (not flying) -- cheesy but effective2005 November 7, Erik Piper, “-Crawl- How to cope with beserk mutation”, in rec.games.roguelike.misc (Usenet)