1
: the state of being full of or smelling of sap
2
: the quality or state of being sappy : foolishness

Examples of sappiness in a Sentence

the over-the-top sappiness of the verse on the Valentine's Day card
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The whole thing strikes a less successful balance between Gunn's dark comic side and his inherent sappiness than The Suicide Squad, the best Guardians of the Galaxy movie to not actually feature the Guardians of the Galaxy. A.a. Dowd, Chron, 28 Apr. 2023 The playful tone, however, oscillates between self-referential nods to the incongruity of people suddenly bursting into song and holiday-movie sentimentality, when either a more bare-knuckled commitment to satire or an unabashed embrace of its sappiness would be in order. Brian Lowry, CNN, 17 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sappiness was in 1552

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Cite this Entry

“Sappiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sappiness. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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