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torchy

torchy

8.3
Showing strong feelings that make people feel sad or moved
  • adjective
  • /ˈtɔrʧi/
translation icon : sentimental
  • His latest album features several torchy tracks that beautifully convey feelings of nostalgia.

Examples

  • Alyssa launches into a torchy tune.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The singer's performance was filled with torchy melodies that stirred the audience's emotions.

  • At the intimate venue, she captivated everyone with a torchy ballad about lost love.

Synonyms

sentimental
vstorchy
165 4.5

Having strong warm feelings about people or things from the past, often too emotional

applies mainly to emotional qualities in music and singing rather than memories
melodramatic
vstorchy
32 5.6

Showing feelings in a way that is too strong

is more about simple sentimental music feeling rather than theatricality
lyrical
vstorchy
31 4.9

Expressing deep personal feeling like a song

leans more toward sentimental music quality used in singing
mushy
vstorchy
  • Informal
27 4.3

Showing too much emotion in a way that seems silly or fake

refers more to musical singing warmth than soft overemotional tone
tearful
vstorchy
26 1.8

Showing you are about to cry because of a strong feeling

refers to sentimental music feeling not the physical act of crying
sappy
vstorchy
  • Offensive
23 7.0

Too emotional in a way that feels silly or fake

is more about genuine musical sentiment than silly excess
teary
vstorchy
21 2.0

Having eyes that look ready to cry

describes musical sentimental quality rather than a person's watery eyes
weepy
vstorchy
20 3.7

Feeling like you want to cry easily

focuses on musical sentimental mood rather than a tendency to cry
feely
vstorchy
  • Informal
17 8.6

Showing strong feelings rather than careful thought

is narrower describing musical sentimental quality rather than decision style
maudlin
vstorchy
8 8.0

Too emotional in a way that seems silly or not sincere

is less extreme and denotes sentimental musical quality without overdone insincerity
gushy
vstorchy
6 7.0

Showing too much emotion in a way that feels silly

tends toward controlled sentimental musical feeling rather than open excess
emo
vstorchy
  • Slang
5 7.9

Showing strong feelings, often sad or moody

centers on sentimental musical quality rather than moodiness or style
schmaltzy
vstorchy
  • Informal
2 8.7

Too emotional in a way that feels false or silly

is instead a natural sentimental music feeling not exaggerated
drippy
vstorchy
  • Offensive
1 7.9

Too emotional in a way that feels silly or fake

is more about tasteful sentimental singing rather than embarrassing insincerity
soppy
vstorchy
  • UK
1 5.8

Too emotional and sentimental in a way that seems silly

is used for sincere sentimental music quality not foolish excess
bathetic
vstorchy
  • Literature
1 9.9

Too sentimental in a way that feels fake or silly

is genuinely emotional in music rather than trying and failing to touch
souled
vstorchy
7.7

Showing deep feeling in a song or performance

focuses more on sentimental singing rather than general expressive spirit
passional
vstorchy
  • Archaic
9.8

Showing strong emotion, often in a dramatic or poetic way

is more about gentle sentimental music than intense literary passion
soupy
vstorchy
  • Literature
6.8

Being too emotional in a cheap, false way

is more simply sentimental in singing rather than cloyingly forced
marshmallowy
vstorchy
  • Informal
6.3

Too sweet and sentimental in tone or style

leans toward heartfelt musical sentiment rather than sickly sweet tone
gloppy
vstorchy
  • Informal
8.3

Too sweet and emotional so it feels false

is softer naming sentimental music quality without unpleasant cloying
goopy
vstorchy
  • Informal
7.6

Too emotional and sweet in a way that feels fake

is simply sentimental musical quality without sickening sweetness
slobbery
vstorchy
  • Informal
4.9

Too sentimental and not sincere

is milder implying sentimental music feeling without dramatic insincerity

How Emotional

maudlin
8 8.0
touching
1 3.4
torchy
8.3
sentimental
165 4.5

Surface Forms

torchy positive
torchier comparative
torchiest superlative

Morphology

torchy = torch (semi-transparent) = torch + y

Formed from 'torch' + '-y', but the meaning 'sentimental' comes via idiomatic uses (e.g., 'torch song'/'carry a torch') rather than the literal object, so learners cannot fully predict it.

Etymology

Torchy comes from the word torch and the phrase 'to carry a torch' for someone, which means to keep loving them. A 'torch song' is a sad love song, so torchy describes music full of deep, sentimental feeling.