Maudlin - Word of the Day for IELTS Writing and Speaking

During your IELTS Speaking and Writing tests, using a wide range of words would help you express ideas clearly and stand out from the crowd. One of the perfect picks for this is the word, ‘Maudlin.’ 

This adjective of ‘Maudlin’, refers to a person who gets excessively sad about an unwanted situation, and it is used in a rude way to describe them. In an academic context, “Maudlin” adds precision and helps you describe ideas and concepts that are young but promising.

So why wait? Let us begin learning all about this word and help you master a good set of vocabulary for your IELTS exam! 

Meaning of the Word “Maudlin”

The word “Maudlin” is an adjective that is used to describe someone who is overly emotional, sentimental, tearful, or dramatically affectionate. It is usually in a way that feels excessive or exaggerated and is often referred to as a person who turns emotional because of sadness, nostalgia or even alcohol.

A person who is maudlin when they cry too easily and behave in an overly emotional way, and express their feelings dramatically, even when that situation does not actually require it.

For Example:

• “She became maudlin after watching her old family videos.”
• “This movie that we went to yesterday was so overly sentimental that many viewers found it maudlin rather than moving.”

Regarding the tonality, “Maudlin” is a word that generally carries a negative or critical tone, and suggests having too much emotion and not just emotion itself.

Where Did the Word “Maudlin” Come From?

The origin of the word “maudlin” is interestingly historical and tied to religious imagery. This word comes from the Middle English spelling of Mary Magdalene, which was written as “Maudelen” or “Maudlin.”

Mary Magdalene was depicted in medieval art as weeping, and was related to deep sorrow and repentance. These repeated portrayals of Magdalene crying led to people associating her name with excessive tears and emotional acts.

Over the period, Maudlin (Mary Magdalene) transformed into the word maudlin (tearfully emotional). By the year 1600, the word shifted from being a name to changing into an adjective that described emotional, tear-filled behaviour.

Synonyms of the Word “Maudlin”

Here are words that share a similar meaning with the word “maudlin”:

• Overly emotional
• Tearful
• Melodramatic
• Weepy
• Dramatic
• Sentimental to an excessive degree

Antonyms of the Word “Maudlin”

For you to understand a word entirely, it also helps to know its opposites:

• Calm
• Composed
• Unemotional
• Rational
• Practical
• Controlled
• Unsentimental
• Balanced

Different Usages of the Word “Maudlin”

1. Adverb examples - maudlinly :

1. The musician sang maudlinly.
2. After having some shots of anaesthesia, Tom moaned maudlinly.
3. The widow had pleaded maudlinly to entitle her to receive the pension of her dead husband.
4. “ I hate to sit in a corner and lament maudlinly”.
5. The drunkard pleaded maudlinly on being handcuffed.

2. Adjective examples - maudlin:

1. The musician played maudlin tunes, and the audience was moved.
2. Tom became maudlin after having a few shots of anaesthesia.
3. It was a maudlin letter to the government to entitle her to receive the pension of her dead husband.
4. “I hate listening to maudlin songs”.
5. The police grabbed him by the collar and the angry drunkard turned maudlin.

3. Noun examples - maudlinness:

1. The maudlinness of the tunes moved the audience.
2. The doctors noted the maudlinness in the request of the cancer patient.
3. The maudlinness of the letter entitled her to the pension immediately.
4. “ The maudlinness in the song irritates me”.
5. The police did notice the maudlinness in the tone of the drunkard.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Using the Word “Maudlin”

Even though “maudlin” is just a simple word once understood, many English learners use it incorrectly. Here are some of the mistakes you must avoid:

Mistake 1: Using it to describe general sadness

“Maudlin” is not equal to getting sad.

It means to get excessively emotional, not just emotional.

• Correct Usage: “He became maudlin after drinking too much rum.”
• Incorrect Usage:“He was maudlin because his phone broke.”

Mistake 2: Using it to describe situations instead of a certain behavior

The word usually describes people or emotions, and not events.

• Correct Usage: “His speech became maudlin towards the end.”
• Incorrect Usage: “The play was maudlin.” (unless it is referring to an emotional tone)

Mistake 3: Overusing it in formal writing

While the word is suitable for IELTS Speaking and less formal essays, it can be used sparingly in very academic contexts.

A Sample Scenario to Use the Word “Maudlin”

IELTS Speaking Part 2 - Sample Answer

Describe a time when you became emotional.

“Last year during New Year’s Eve, my family decided to watch a slideshow of our old photos. At first, I was completely okay, but as the pictures kept playing on the TV, I unexpectedly became quite maudlin. I then started recalling my childhood memories, and I found myself getting teary even when the occasion was supposed to be a joyful one. My family started teasing me about it later. It then turned out to be a funny scenario. But, anyways, I think moments like these remind people how important relationships are. It wasn’t just the sadness exactly, but it was more like an overwhelming nostalgia.”

Example Sentences to Understand the Usage of “Maudlin”

• “She gets maudlin every time he talks about her school days.”
• “This series became a little maudlin during the final episodes.”
• “The documentary was powerful, but some people felt it became maudlin at certain scenes.”
• “His speech risked sounding maudlin because of his excessive emotional appeals.”
• “Nostalgia made him unexpectedly maudlin during last night’s dinner.”
• “After midnight, the gang grew maudlin, sharing their confessions and old memories.”

Also Check: 

• IELTS Suggestion Letter: Structure, Useful Phrases & Samples
• Common IELTS Essay Topics for Writing Task 2
• Timing and Word Length in IELTS Writing Module
• 21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score
• Recent IELTS Writing Actual Test & Model Answers