cloying
What does "cloying" mean?
The word "cloying" describes something that is excessively sweet, rich, or sentimental to the point of causing disgust or physical discomfort. Imagine eating a piece of cake that is so sugary it makes your teeth ache, or being overwhelmed by a heavy, syrupy perfume that makes it hard to breathe. In usage, it is most often applied to food, fragrances, or emotions. You might describe a romantic movie as "cloying" if it feels manipulative or overly sappy. It carries a negative connotation, suggesting that while the thing might be pleasant in small doses, it has become nauseating due to an excess of sweetness.
"cloying" in conversation
Discussing a dessert
Do you want another slice of this fudge cake?
Do you want another slice of this fudge cake?
No thanks, it's a bit too cloying for me. I think I've hit my sugar limit.
No thanks, it's a bit too cloying for me. I think I've hit my sugar limit.
Used to describe food that is overwhelmingly rich.
Critiquing a film
What did you think of the new romance movie?
What did you think of the new romance movie?
Honestly, the ending was so cloying I almost walked out. It was just too much sentimentality.
Honestly, the ending was so cloying I almost walked out. It was just too much sentimentality.
Used to describe excessive or fake emotional sentiment.
"cloying" in a sentence
The scent of the flowers was cloying.
The scent of the flowers was cloying.
I found the constant praise from my boss to be quite cloying after a while.
I found the constant praise from my boss to be quite cloying after a while.
The novel's cloying optimism failed to resonate with readers who preferred a more realistic portrayal of life.
The novel's cloying optimism failed to resonate with readers who preferred a more realistic portrayal of life.
