Mary's the only one who laughs at Tom's corny jokes.
Source: tatoeba (3368877)
Corny
/ˈkɔːni/
Synonyms for "corny" (65 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (13)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (20)
Related words (32)
mustyold hatplatitudinoussetshopwornsquarestalestereotypedstockthreadbaretimeworntiredtritetruisticunoriginalwarmed overwarmed-overwell-knownwell-wornworn
Show 1 more word
worn thin
Adjective(10 words)
Noun(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: platitudinous, agrarian, back number, back-number, banal.
- Sentence evidence is available for corny, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "corny".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "corny"
Keep "corny" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "corny" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "corny", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "corny" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
9 entriesagrarian lifebanal remarkclichéd linefarm lifehackneyed phrasemawkish sentimentrural imagerysappy momenttreacly scene
Collocations
6 entriescorny humorcorny jokecorny linecorny pickup linecorny remarkcorny slogan
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
26 translations across 12 languages.
Czech
4 entries- banální adj (insipid or trite)
- nudný adj (insipid or trite)
- ohraný adj (insipid or trite)
- otřepaný adj (insipid or trite)
French
1 entries- banal adj (insipid or trite)
German
1 entries- abgedroschen adj (insipid or trite)
Greek
1 entries- τετριμμένος adj (insipid or trite)
Hungarian
4 entries- banális adj (insipid or trite)
- elcsépelt adj (insipid or trite)
- fantáziátlan adj (insipid or trite)
- jellegtelen adj (insipid or trite)
Indonesian
1 entries- murahan adj (insipid or trite)
Japanese
2 entries- べた adj (insipid or trite)
- 寒い adj (insipid or trite)
Macedonian
1 entries- ба́нален adj (insipid or trite)
Russian
1 entries- бана́льный adj (insipid or trite)
Spanish
1 entries- insipido adj (insipid or trite)
Thai
4 entries- ฝืด adj (insipid or trite)
- เฉิ่ม adj (insipid or trite)
- เชย adj (insipid or trite)
- เปิ่น adj (insipid or trite)
Ukrainian
2 entries- бана́льний adj (insipid or trite)
- заяло́жений adj (insipid or trite)
Sample sentences
32 total sentences available.
How can you put up with Tom's corny jokes?
Source: tatoeba (3595682)
As corny as it sounds, I go to sleep every night with a teddy bear next to my head.
Source: tatoeba (4474914)
As corny as it sounds, I love my husband more each day.
Source: tatoeba (4474915)
Showing 4 of 32 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "corny"?
Closest matches include platitudinous, agrarian, back number, back-number, banal.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "corny"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.