Definitions

1. noun

A type of rendered chicken fat, often used in Jewish cuisine to add flavor and moisture to dishes.

“The chef used schmaltz to baste the roasted chicken and make it crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.”

2. noun

Excessive or overly sentimental emotion, particularly in art or literature.

“The critic accused the novelist of indulging in schmaltz, making her characters’ emotions feel overly dramatic and unrealistic.”

3. verb

To add a rich or excessive quality to something, often in a way that is perceived as sentimental or overly emotional.

“The director schmaltzed up the ending of the movie to make it more emotionally resonant, but it ended up feeling overly sentimental.”