rhizoverbBeta
DictionarytweeArtificial cuteness
adjective

twee

TWEE/twiː/

Overly cute, quaint, or sentimental in an artificial way.

The tea set's excessive kittens, hearts, bows, and lace make it twee.

An extravagantly dainty porcelain tea set with heart-shaped cups, miniature embracing kitten ornaments, pink bows, scalloped edges and layers of floral lace: cuteness piled conspicuously beyond practical decoration.
Etymology
tweeEnglishpleasing, dear

Twee began as a child's pronunciation of sweet and meant tiny or dainty. In the selected sense, that sweetness is judged excessive: too cute, quaint, or sentimental.

More examples

  • The movie's twee ending makes everyone's problems disappear with a hug.
  • I like floral wallpaper, but matching ruffled cushions seem a little twee.
  • Her writing is warm and playful without becoming twee.

Forms

twee · tweer · tweest

tweeness noun — The quality of being artificially cute.

Similar words

cutesy
Emphasizes exaggerated cuteness rather than quaintness or delicate sentiment.
precious
Suggests affected refinement or delicacy, not necessarily exaggerated cuteness.