Ostentatiously affectionate (5-5) Crossword Clue
Answer: LOVEY-DOVEY (10 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Ostentatiously affectionate (5-5)" with 10 letters is "LOVEY-DOVEY".Lovey-dovey refers to someone who is overly or ostentatiously affectionate, often in a way that is overly sweet or gushy. It describes a behavior or relationship that is excessively affectionate, typically involving constant displays of affection or endearment in a public or exaggerated manner.
Why “Lovey-Dovey” Fits
- Ostentatiously affectionate (5-5): “Lovey-dovey” is a set phrase describing behaviour that is exaggeratedly affectionate, overly romantic, or sickeningly sweet in public, so it matches “ostentatiously affectionate” exactly.
- It implies not just genuine affection, but obvious, showy displays of cuddling, kissing, pet names, and constant endearments.
A Bit of Background
- “Lovey-dovey” belongs to a family of playful, rhyming reduplications in English (like “huggy-wuggy” or “kissy-wissy”) that intensify the base idea—in this case, “love.”
- The term is typically used slightly critically or humorously, as in “They were all lovey-dovey in the restaurant,” suggesting a couple whose public affection feels over-the-top, theatrical, or attention-grabbing rather than discreet.
Crossword Solving Insight
- In quick crosswords, clues like “Ostentatiously affectionate (5-5)” point to a familiar, hyphenated idiom:
- The definition “ostentatiously affectionate” signals not simple love, but exaggerated, almost performative affection, which is the core nuance of “lovey-dovey.”
- The enumeration (5-5) fits LOVEY-DOVEY perfectly, and few other common phrases with that pattern capture the same sense, making LOVEY-DOVEY the clear intended answer.
