sob sister: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, dated, sometimes derogatory
Quick answer
What does “sob sister” mean?
A journalist, typically a woman in early 20th-century journalism, who wrote sentimental human-interest stories designed to elicit sympathy and tears.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A journalist, typically a woman in early 20th-century journalism, who wrote sentimental human-interest stories designed to elicit sympathy and tears.
Any person, especially a writer or broadcaster, who uses or produces excessively sentimental, emotional, or maudlin content.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is of American origin and is more historically associated with US journalism. It is understood but less commonly used in British English.
Connotations
In both varieties, the connotation is similar: sentimental, manipulative emotionalism. It may carry stronger historical/jargon associations in American English.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary use in both varieties, but slightly more likely to appear in American historical or media criticism contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sob sister” in a Sentence
She worked as a {sob sister} for the Hearst paper.The article was pure {sob sister} material.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Found in historical studies of journalism or media criticism.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used metaphorically for someone being overly sentimental.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sob sister”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sob sister”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sob sister”
- Using it to refer to any female journalist (it's a specific, often pejorative type).
- Using it in a positive context.
- Misspelling as 'sob-sister' (hyphen is sometimes used, but solid is common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, yes, the term referred to female journalists. In modern figurative use, it could theoretically apply to anyone employing that style, but the gendered connotation remains strong.
It can be derogatory, implying a lack of journalistic integrity or excessive sentimentality. It is best used with historical precision or clear ironic intent.
The analogous historical term is 'sob brother', but it was far less common. More generally, a male writer in the same vein might be called a 'sentimentalist' or 'human-interest reporter'.
No. The specific role and title have vanished, though the style of emotionally charged human-interest storytelling persists in various media formats.
A journalist, typically a woman in early 20th-century journalism, who wrote sentimental human-interest stories designed to elicit sympathy and tears.
Sob sister is usually informal, dated, sometimes derogatory in register.
Sob sister: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɒb ˌsɪs.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɑːb ˌsɪs.tɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play the sob sister”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a newspaper SISTER who makes you SOB with her sad stories.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOURNALISM IS EMOTIONAL LABOUR / THE WRITER IS A FAMILY MEMBER (sister) who elicits tears (sob).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'sob sister' in its original sense?