Cloying
adjective
Too sweet, rich, or sentimental to the point of being disgusting or causing distaste.
The dessert had a cloying sweetness that made it hard to finish.
Often appears as...
- cloying sweetness
- cloying scent
adjective
Creating an excess of unwanted feelings or emotions, especially sympathy or sentiment.
His constant compliments were cloying and insincere.
Often appears as...
- cloying insincerity
- cloying compliments
adjective
Too sweet, rich, or sentimental to the point of being disgusting or causing distaste.
The dessert had a cloying sweetness that made it hard to finish.
Often appears as...
- cloying sweetness
- cloying scent
adjective
Creating an excess of unwanted feelings or emotions, especially sympathy or sentiment.
His constant compliments were cloying and insincere.
Often appears as...
- cloying insincerity
- cloying compliments
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Excessive Sweetness
Use 'cloying' to describe something overly sweet, like a taste or smell that is overbearing.
The air was filled with the cloying aroma of cotton candy at the fair.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
When saying 'cloying', it implies something negative, not just sweet.
She wore a cloying perfume that left me with a headache.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid in Formal Writing
'Cloying' often appears in creative writing or personal opinions, not in formal or academic contexts.
His love letter was so cloying it felt embarrassing to read.
Pro Tip 1/3Excessive Sweetness
Use 'cloying' to describe something overly sweet, like a taste or smell that is overbearing.
The air was filled with the cloying aroma of cotton candy at the fair.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
When saying 'cloying', it implies something negative, not just sweet.
She wore a cloying perfume that left me with a headache.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid in Formal Writing
'Cloying' often appears in creative writing or personal opinions, not in formal or academic contexts.
His love letter was so cloying it felt embarrassing to read.
Pro Tip 1/3Excessive Sweetness
Use 'cloying' to describe something overly sweet, like a taste or smell that is overbearing.
The air was filled with the cloying aroma of cotton candy at the fair.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
When saying 'cloying', it implies something negative, not just sweet.
She wore a cloying perfume that left me with a headache.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid in Formal Writing
'Cloying' often appears in creative writing or personal opinions, not in formal or academic contexts.
His love letter was so cloying it felt embarrassing to read.
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Quote examples
Constance Wu
American Actress
I do think there are some actors that can get away with trying to be funny, and they're still funny because they're just likeable, and you want to see them. Me, though, when you see me trying to be funny, it's like the worst thing in the world. It's needy, it's cloying, it's manipulative - it's bad.
Quote examples
Claire Fox
British Writer
European civil society and NGOs that petition for favours and influence for their special interests are often themselves funded from E.U. coffers. This creates a system of patronage that encourages self-reinforcing group-think and a cloying sycophancy.
Quote examples
Ken Liu
American Writer
I wanted to make my stories, which are inspired by Asian stories, into something fresh, decontextualized - to give them new life as a new kind of fantasy that isn't so cloying and exotic and strange.
Quote examples
Jordana Spiro
American Actress
I don't think you always get to see a woman on TV who is relatively neurosis-free and, while looking for a relationship, isn't man hunting and isn't cloying and isn't a fashionista.
Quote examples
Alice Walker
American Author
I believe you mother everybody, not in a cloying, hovering way, but taking care of what is around you.
Quote examples
Jacob Weisberg
American Journalist
Joe Lieberman can be cloying and sanctimonious.
Quote examples
Constance Wu
American Actress
I do think there are some actors that can get away with trying to be funny, and they're still funny because they're just likeable, and you want to see them. Me, though, when you see me trying to be funny, it's like the worst thing in the world. It's needy, it's cloying, it's manipulative - it's bad.
Quote examples
Claire Fox
British Writer
European civil society and NGOs that petition for favours and influence for their special interests are often themselves funded from E.U. coffers. This creates a system of patronage that encourages self-reinforcing group-think and a cloying sycophancy.
Quote examples
Ken Liu
American Writer
I wanted to make my stories, which are inspired by Asian stories, into something fresh, decontextualized - to give them new life as a new kind of fantasy that isn't so cloying and exotic and strange.
Quote examples
Jordana Spiro
American Actress
I don't think you always get to see a woman on TV who is relatively neurosis-free and, while looking for a relationship, isn't man hunting and isn't cloying and isn't a fashionista.
Quote examples
Alice Walker
American Author
I believe you mother everybody, not in a cloying, hovering way, but taking care of what is around you.
Quote examples
Jacob Weisberg
American Journalist
Joe Lieberman can be cloying and sanctimonious.
Example 1 of 6
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