What does "maudlin" mean?
The Magdalene; Mary Magdalene.
Maudlin
/ˈmɔːd.lɪn/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The Magdalene; Mary Magdalene.
- Grammar: maudlin is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: mawkish, sentimental, addled, apish.
- Useful contrasts: clinical, restrained, sober.
- Usage evidence: Spare me your maudlin life stories.
How to use "maudlin"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "maudlin" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "maudlin" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "maudlin" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "maudlin" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "mawkish" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "maudlin", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The Magdalene; Mary Magdalene. obsolete
"for alle they worſchipden hir ſouereynly / as worthy was / but ſpecially Mawdelayne / that wolde neuere departe fro hir."
- 2 Either of two aromatic plants, costmary or sweet yarrow. historical
"Common Maudlin have somewhat long and narrow leaves, snipped about the edges."
- 3 A Magdalene house; a brothel. obsolete
Adjective
- 1 Affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness.
"Why, man, you couldn't stand—you made everybody laugh in the Gardens, though you were crying yourself. You were maudlin, Jos. Don't you remember singing a song?"
- 2 Extravagantly or excessively sentimental; mawkish, self-pitying.
"To cap it all I had written a letter to Mara saying that we had to find a way out soon or I would commit suicide. It must have been a maudlin letter because when she telephoned me she said it was imperative to see me immediately."
- 3 Tearful, lachrymose. obsolete
Adjective
- 1 effusively or insincerely emotional wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname originating as a matronymic.
- 2 Alternative form of Magdalen (“Magdalen College, Oxford”). alt-of, alternative
"At the same school we met a young man of small fortune, and in a subordinate situation at Maudlin."
Antonyms
Example
"Spare me your maudlin life stories."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "maudlin"?
Common synonyms include: mawkish, sentimental, addled, apish, asinine, bathetic.
How do you use "maudlin" in a sentence?
Spare me your maudlin life stories.
How do you pronounce "maudlin"?
Pronounced /ˈmɔːd.lɪn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English Maudelen, a dialectal form of Mary Magdalene (typically depicted weeping), from Old French Madelaine (whence Madeleine), from Late Latin Magdalena (see Magdalena, Magdalene, and Maudlin).
Etymology 2
English surname, from Middle English Maudeleyn. Doublet of Madeleine, Magdalen, Magdalena, and Magdalene.