What does drippy mean?
"Drippy" is an informal adjective with two related senses. In its literal use, it describes something wet, soggy, or given to dripping: a drippy faucet, a drippy candle, or a drippy nose during a cold. By extension, it works figuratively to characterize people, writing, music, or sentiment as excessively emotional, weak, or saccharine — a drippy romance film, for instance, might be one whose sentimentality feels overdone. The word derives simply from the verb "drip," formed with the adjectival suffix "-y." Its connotations are generally negative or gently mocking: nobody wants their tap, their coat, or their taste in poetry described as drippy. It is common throughout British and American English in casual conversation, reviews, and light criticism. Because it pairs concrete physicality with emotional judgment, it is a vivid, economical word for expressing disapproval of both leaks and schmaltz.
Wet, soggy, or tending to drip with liquid.
"A drippy paintbrush left streaks all down the wall."
Commonly applied to faucets, noses, candles, rain gear, and anything leaking or saturated.
(Informal) Excessively sentimental, weak, or insipid.
"He found the greeting card's verse too drippy to send with a straight face."
Carries a dismissive, mildly mocking tone; typical of informal criticism.
The same word that describes a leaky faucet also describes a hopelessly sappy love song — English rarely lets a good metaphor go to waste.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of drippy
"Drippy" was formed in English from the verb "drip," which descends from Old English "drypan" (to drip), related to the noun "drop." The adjectival suffix "-y" was added, likely in the nineteenth century, first in the literal sense of tending to drip, with the figurative sense of sentimental or weak developing later. Its relatives include "drip," "drop," and "droplet," all belonging to the same Germanic root family.
Related word forms
How drippy is actually used
"Drippy" is informal in both senses. The literal sense (wet, dripping) is common in everyday speech, especially for taps, noses, candles, and rain-soaked things. The figurative sense — meaning mawkish or feeble — carries a mildly dismissive connotation and appears chiefly in informal criticism of art, music, writing, or personality.
Easily confused with drippy
"Droopy" means sagging or hanging limply, while "drippy" means leaking or wet with dripping liquid (or, figuratively, overly sentimental).