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what does the exact meaning of cutesy?

babmani
(I want to change does into is in the title..but I don't know how to do this...) My online friend called me by this...a few days ago...and today...I looked for this in a dictionary and it said 1. [artificially](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ko/%EC%82%AC%EC%A0%84/%EC%98%81%EC%96%B4/artificially) [attractive](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ko/%EC%82%AC%EC%A0%84/%EC%98%81%EC%96%B4/attractive) **and** [pleasant](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ko/%EC%82%AC%EC%A0%84/%EC%98%81%EC%96%B4/pleasant)**,** [especially](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ko/%EC%82%AC%EC%A0%84/%EC%98%81%EC%96%B4/especially) **in a** [**childish**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ko/%EC%82%AC%EC%A0%84/%EC%98%81%EC%96%B4/childish) **way:** 2. Cutesy" can be used as an informal, disapproving term to describe someone or something that is too cute or tries too hard to be appealing 3. Cutesy” tends to have a negative connotation of “trying too hard to be cute or appealing” As far as I know, I've never tried to be cute and I have a childish voice and has a younger face than my age, which are my complex as an adult.....I was shocked when I knew this meaning...and confused........DId he want me to stop trying to look cute when he said this to me?.......

13 comments

MetapodChannel•
I don't use cutesy to mean a negative thing personally. I think many people do but also some people just use it to mean innocently cute. I think this is something more to ask your friend what they meant.
TheCloudForest•
**What exactly does "cutesy" mean?** or **What is the exact meaning of "cutesy"?** It means what the dictionary says 🤷🏼‍♂️ Without knowing what exactly you guys did or said prior to this, or if the person is a native English speaker, it's hard to say what exactly the intent was. But the dictionary isn't somehow just wrong.
thorazos•
The definition you posted looks accurate to me. What exactly did your friend say to you? I think it's very possible he meant to call you "cute" and just misspoke.
Destrion425•
I’ve personally never heard cutesy used with these definitions. Where I am from it is simply a fun way to say the word cute.
SnooComics6403•
Something that has "cute" qualities(think Hello Kitty, Kirby or puppies). I wouldn't say it has anything to do with attractive, though it's often compared to childish because of how innocent cute things usually look like. When someone is being called cutesy they are saying that the overall appearance of someone has cute qualities. Voice, physical appearence, mannerism or what not.
plushieshoyru•
I call people, especially men, cutesy if I think they have an adorable face or energy but I don’t necessarily find them attractive. That’s something I would call a 20-year-old employee who had a playful, sweet vibe that left me feeling “aw that was fun.” It’s a very specific word for me haha
Agreeable-Fee6850•
If someone is using ‘cutesy’ about a person, it is a criticism. Of course, they might not know the meaning of the word.
fizzile•
I wouldn't have thought of it as negative. Obviously context could change that but it doesn't have negatitive connotations to me. It's usually a positive word in my experience or just a neutral descriptor.
PinkToucan_•
I think most of the people in these comments are speaking as grown adults (30+), and while they aren’t technically *wrong*, the word cutesy has been re-imagined by the Gen-Z lexicon to just mean “cute”. So, context and age will play a large role in how this word is utilized by the speaker.
cinema_meme•
Calling someone cute usually means that you think they’re pretty. To me, calling someone cutesy means that they have cute qualities, which might refer to a baby face, but it could also mean that you dress cutesy (pastel colors, brands that are cutesy like Sanrio).
somuchsong•
I learn a lot here, even as a native speaker. Never in my life would I have taken "cutesy" as a compliment but apparently Gen Z are using it that way!
I-hate-taxes•
It’s definitely a compliment, especially when it’s from a guy friend.
2713406•
I would just take it to mean cute, because I don’t even know how to describe the subtle difference between how I would use the two words - I think only certain ‘cute’ things are ‘cutesy’ and I would have to think way too hard to decide which are or aren’t. Also Reddit doesn’t allow post titles to be changed, it’s annoying but it’s just the way the site works so people have adjusted.