Maudlin
/ˈmɔːdlɪn/
adjectiveC2
Definition
Maudlin means being very emotional and sad, often in a way that feels too much or a little silly. It usually describes people who cry easily or talk about feelings in a way that seems too soft or weak, especially when drunk or tired.
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See It in Action
Overly emotional and tearful, often in a weak or silly way
- •After a few drinks, he became maudlin and started telling stories about his childhood.
- •The movie was so maudlin that some people laughed instead of feeling sad.
- •She got maudlin when talking about her lost pet, crying more than expected.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'maudlin' like 'sad' (A1 word), but much stronger and more emotional—like crying a lot or feeling sorry for yourself
- ✓Picture someone watching a sad movie and crying so much that others feel it is too much or almost funny
- ✓It's the feeling when you remember something sad and start to cry even if others think it's not a big deal
- ✓Sounds like 'MAWD-lin' → imagine a 'mad' person who is very 'thin' emotionally, easily broken and crying
- ✓In stories, maudlin characters often appear after losing something important and showing their feelings openly and a lot
- ✓NOT like 'sad' (quiet, simple feeling)—maudlin is loud and shows too much emotion
- ✓NOT like 'cry' (just tears)—maudlin includes talking or acting in a way that feels too soft or weak
- ✓NOT like 'melancholy' (deep, quiet sadness)—maudlin is more about being overly emotional or silly in sadness
Try Other Words
- •Tearful: crying or about to cry (Use when focusing on the act of crying without the silly or weak feeling)
- •Overemotional: having too many feelings (Use when someone shows too much feeling in any situation)
- •Sentimental: showing gentle feelings, often about the past (Use when feelings are soft but not too much)
- •Weepy: easily crying or showing sadness (Use when someone cries often or easily)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; likely a whole word)
- •Etymology: From the name 'Mary Magdalene,' a biblical figure often shown as weeping and emotional; the word came to mean overly emotional or tearful
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s in English to describe someone who cries a lot or is very sentimental, especially in a weak way
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people, movies, music, or writing that show too much sadness or emotion in a way that seems silly or too much
Reflect & Connect
•Can feeling maudlin ever be helpful or comforting, or is it always negative?
•How do different cultures show sadness, and could maudlin behavior be seen differently in other places?
Fill in the blanks
1.When he was tired and alone, he became maudlin and started to ___ about old memories.
2.Maudlin feelings often come after someone has ___ or lost something important.
3.Unlike quiet sadness, maudlin is when someone shows ___ emotions that others might find too much.
4.The movie was so maudlin that some viewers ___ because it felt too silly.
5.People often become maudlin when they drink too much ___ or feel very lonely.
6.Maudlin behavior usually includes crying or talking about feelings in a way that seems ___ or weak.
7.You can tell someone is maudlin when their emotions are too ___ for the situation.