Cardboardy

Cardboardy is an adjective used to describe something that resembles or evokes cardboard in appearance, feel, or quality. It can refer to physical materials that are thin, stiff, and insubstantial, as well as to metaphoric qualities such as dullness, flatness, or lack of depth. The form is created by adding the -y suffix to cardboard, producing an informal descriptor common in casual writing and critique.

In practice, cardboardy can describe packaging that looks torn or flimsy; surfaces with rough textures and obvious seam lines; or designs that read as inexpensive or temporarily assembled. In media criticism, it can describe sets, props, or sound that feel hollow, dry, or gimmicky, lacking warmth or realism. In music, a cardboardy timbre may refer to dry, brittle, or non-resonant tones.

Usage notes: Cardboardy is informal and best avoided in formal writing. It conveys a specific tactile impression and is stronger when contrasted with terms like lush, polished, or immersive.

See also: cardboard; flimsy; low-fidelity.