Shmaltz is a word that is commonly used to describe something that is excessively emotional or sentimental. There are numerous synonyms that can be used to replace this word, including saccharine, cheesy, sappy, sentimental, touchy-feely, maudlin, and melodramatic. Each of these words carries a slightly different connotation, but all are generally used to describe something that is overly emotional or sentimental. For example, if someone describes a movie as "shmalzy," they might also use any of the above words to describe it. Using synonyms for "shmaltz" can help writers and speakers vary their language and convey their message more precisely.