hokey hokey /ˈhoʊki/

adjective

1. [Informal, N. American] Artificially formal  ( contrived , hokey [Informal, N. American] , stilted , artificial )
   artificially formal
    That artificial humility that her husband hated
   that artificial humility that her husband hated
    Contrived coyness
   contrived coyness
    A stilted letter of acknowledgment
   a stilted letter of acknowledgment
    When people try to correct their speech they develop a stilted pronunciation
   when people try to correct their speech they develop a stilted pronunciation
   
2. [Informal, N. American] Effusively or insincerely emotional  ( bathetic , drippy [Informal] , hokey [Informal, N. American] , kitschy , maudlin , mawkish , mushy [Informal] , sappy [Informal] , schmaltzy [Informal] , schmalzy [Informal] , sentimental , slushy [Informal] , soppy [Informal, British] , soupy [Informal] , cutesy [Informal] )
   effusively or insincerely emotional
    A bathetic novel
   a bathetic novel
    Maudlin expressions of sympathy
   maudlin expressions of sympathy
    Mushy effusiveness
   mushy effusiveness
    A schmaltzy song
   a schmaltzy song
    Sentimental soap operas
   sentimental soap operas
    Slushy poetry
   slushy poetry