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Hokey means excessively sentimental, corny, or contrived; inauthentic. Imagine a scene in a movie where the characters have an overly dramatic, tearful reunion 😭—it might feel hokey. It implies something is cheesy or lacking in sophistication. It’s the opposite of genuine, cool, or subtle. A hokey joke is predictable and unfunny. A hokey performance feels forced and unconvincing.
The origin of 'hokey' is uncertain, but it may come from the phrase 'hocus-pocus,' referring to a magician's trick or deception. Another theory links it to the word 'hoax.' Regardless, 'hokey' has come to mean something that is insincere, contrived, or overly sentimental.
Think of those overly dramatic moments in some superhero movies where the hero gives a long, cheesy speech right before saving the world. Sometimes it works, but other times it feels a bit hokey and makes you cringe. It is all about the execution.
Use 'hokey' to describe something that is overly sentimental, corny, or inauthentic. It's a great way to express your critical opinion about something cheesy. Keep building your vocabulary! 📚✨
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