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lovey

lovey

9 8.3
Showing tender affection in public or toward someone close
  • adjective
  • /ˈlʌvi/
translation icon : cariñoso
  • You and Brad are all lovey-dovey and smug about your relationship.
  • very lovey
  • so lovey
  • looked lovey

It should be so lovey dovey, No.

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Examples

  • Some lovey-dovey couples are so in sync that they even start physically looking alike after a while.

    Blog text (32)
  • Every couple in here is all lovey dovey.

  • You seemed to be lovey-dovey back there.

  • I know things may be lovey dovey with you two right now.

  • So you guys are still moving forward with all these lovey-dovey stories, huh?

    Blog text (19)
  • "I thought you two were so lovey-dovey."

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Later in the day, the cute couple went to the ArcLight in Los Angeles for a movie, looking lovey-dovey as ever.

    Blog text (33)
  • I saw the both of you on that bus, all lovey-dovey and whispering and giggling and borrowing each other's lipstick!

  • She was too peppy, too lovey-dovey with her boyfriend, Flynn who seemed completely useless to me.

  • The couple walked through the park, holding hands and looking very lovey as they shared sweet whispers.

Synonyms

loving
vslovey
454 1.0

A person who shows strong care and warm feelings for someone

is more playful and often shown publicly toward someone close
fond
vslovey
223 1.0

Like someone or something in a warm way

is more demonstrative and often shown publicly toward a close person
tender
vslovey
110 1.6

Showing care and kindness in a gentle way

is more playful and openly shown between close people
affectionate
vslovey
56 2.2

To show warm, loving feelings to someone

is more intimate and often used publicly between close people
cuddly
vslovey
37 1.0

Soft and pleasant to hug or hold close

is focused on outward tender expressions rather than physical comfort
dovey
vslovey
  • Informal
5 8.3

Being very loving and sweet in a way that feels too romantic

is similar but more likely used playfully in public between close people
huggy
vslovey
  • Informal
3 7.0

Liking to give or receive hugs

is more about public tender words and gestures than hugging
smoochy
vslovey
  • Informal
2 7.1

Showing romantic feelings like kissing or cuddling in a very sweet way

is broader and includes public tender gestures beyond kissing
kissy
vslovey
  • Informal
1 8.0

Acting overly loving but not sincere

is genuinely tender and not primarily for gaining favor
cuddlesome
vslovey
1 8.2

Feels pleasant to hold or hug like a soft blanket

is about openly showing affection, not only physical embrace
lovesome
vslovey
  • Archaic
9.9

Warm and gentle in a way that makes people want to care for it

is more openly demonstrative and aimed at close partners
smoochy-woochy
vslovey
  • Informal
9.9

A playful, very affectionate nickname used between romantic partners or close friends

is less about nicknames and more about open tender behaviour
spoony
vslovey
  • Offensive
9.9

Showing too much love in a silly, naive way

is more controlled and deliberately affectionate in public

Antonyms

883 4.4

Unfriendly and distant in feeling or action

Not showing love or warm feelings to others

How Affectionate

doting
6.8
lovey
9 8.3
affectionate
56 2.2
tender
110 1.6

Surface Forms

lovey positive

Morphology

lovey = love (transparent) = love + y

The adjective is directly formed from 'love' + the productive adjectival/affectional suffix '-y', making its affectionate meaning straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Lovey comes from the heart word love plus the little ending -y, where -y means 'full of' or 'like'. So lovey means 'full of love', which is why we use it for people who are very tender and affectionate.