mushy

English

Etymology

From mush +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmʌ.ʃi/, /ˈmʊ.ʃi/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Homophone: mushie
• Rhymes: -ʌʃi
• Rhymes: -ʊʃi

Adjective

mushy (comparative mushier or more mushy, superlative mushiest or most mushy)

1. Resembling or having the consistency of mush; semiliquid, pasty, or granular.

   I don't especially like mushy oatmeal.

2. Soft; squishy.

   The brake pedal is mushy sometimes when I step on it.

3. Overly sappy, corny, or cheesy; maudlin.

   Skip the mushy, romantic scenes and get to the action.

   • 1948, The American Magazine, volume 145, page 122:

     I am sure the hostess will leave off her list men and women who usually drink too much, the woman who gets mushy and tries to steal all the handsomest husbands, the man who offensively would take this opportunity to try to build up sales contacts, […]

   • 1980 December 6, Cindy Rizzo, “Jewish, Lesbian, Feminist, Psychologist, Author—All of the above and more”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 20, page 8:

     The day before she left for college, she and Vicki said goodbye. They exchanged mushy cards and promised to write frequently.

Derived terms

• mushily
• mushiness
• mushy peas

 

Translations

resembling or having the consistency of mush; semi-liquid, pasty, or granular

• Bulgarian: кашест (kašest)
• Czech: rozměklý, kašovitý (cs), rozbředlý
• French: pâteux (fr)
• German: matschig (de), breiig (de), labberig
• Maori: tāhōhō, tāromiromi
• Spanish: blando (es), pastoso (es)

soft; squishy

• Czech: měkký (cs)
• French: mou (fr)
• Japanese: 柔らかい (ja) (yawarakai)
• Maori: tāhōhō, tāromiromi

overly sappy, corny, or cheesy

• Czech: sentimentální, limonádový (cs)
• French: à l’eau de rose (fr), fleur bleue (fr)
• German: kitschig (de)
• Russian: слаща́вый (ru) (slaščávyj)
• Spanish: ñoño (es), sensiblero