Artistic Criticism Vocabulary

adjective lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring

• The lackluster performance of the stock market has investors worried.
• The movie received lackluster reviews from critics.
• The party was pretty lackluster, not much going on.
• Her lackluster attitude towards the project is holding back its progress.

adjective having a sentimental or overly emotional quality

• The mawkish sentimentality of the film was criticized by many reviewers.
• I can't stand all the mawkish stuff in romantic comedies.
• That movie was so mawkish, I almost cried.
• His mawkish attempts at flattery were transparent to everyone.

adjective of only moderate quality; not very good

• The quality of the product was mediocre, falling short of our expectations.
• The movie we watched last night was pretty mediocre, nothing special.
• I tried out that new restaurant everyone's been talking about, but honestly, it was just mediocre.
• Her performance in the play was mediocre at best, lacking the passion and energy we were hoping for.

adjective describing something as being of low quality or standard

• The company was accused of providing third rate services to their clients.
• I can't believe they sold me this third rate product.
• That movie was so third rate, I walked out halfway through.
• Her cooking skills were third rate compared to her mother's.