CLOY Synonyms: 21 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'cloy' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cloy are glut , gorge , pall , sate , satiate , and surfeit . While all these words mean "to fill to repletion," cloy stresses the disgust or boredom resulting from such surfeiting. // sentimental pictures that cloy after a while

Q: When is 'glut' a more appropriate choice than 'cloy'?

The synonyms glut and cloy are sometimes interchangeable, but glut implies excess in feeding or supplying. // a market glutted with diet books

Q: When could 'gorge' be used to replace 'cloy'?

In some situations, the words gorge and cloy are roughly equivalent. However, gorge suggests glutting to the point of bursting or choking. // gorged themselves with chocolate

Q: When would 'pall' be a good substitute for 'cloy'?

While the synonyms pall and cloy are close in meaning, pall emphasizes the loss of ability to stimulate interest or appetite. // a life of leisure eventually begins to pall

Q: How do 'satiate' and 'sate' relate to one another, in the sense of 'cloy'?

Both satiate and sate may sometimes imply only complete satisfaction but more often suggest repletion that has destroyed interest or desire. // years of globe-trotting had satiated their interest in travel // readers were sated with sensationalistic stories

Q: When is it sensible to use 'surfeit' instead of 'cloy'?

The meanings of surfeit and cloy largely overlap; however, surfeit implies a nauseating repletion. // surfeited themselves with junk food

cloy

verb

Definition of cloy

as in to saturate

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How is the word cloy different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cloy are glut, gorge, pall, sate, satiate, and surfeit. While all these words mean "to fill to repletion," cloy stresses the disgust or boredom resulting from such surfeiting.

sentimental pictures that cloy after a while

When is glut a more appropriate choice than cloy?

The synonyms glut and cloy are sometimes interchangeable, but glut implies excess in feeding or supplying.

a market glutted with diet books

When could gorge be used to replace cloy?

In some situations, the words gorge and cloy are roughly equivalent. However, gorge suggests glutting to the point of bursting or choking.

gorged themselves with chocolate

When would pall be a good substitute for cloy?

While the synonyms pall and cloy are close in meaning, pall emphasizes the loss of ability to stimulate interest or appetite.

a life of leisure eventually begins to pall

How do satiate and sate relate to one another, in the sense of cloy?

Both satiate and sate may sometimes imply only complete satisfaction but more often suggest repletion that has destroyed interest or desire.

years of globe-trotting had satiated their interest in travel

readers were sated with sensationalistic stories

When is it sensible to use surfeit instead of cloy?

The meanings of surfeit and cloy largely overlap; however, surfeit implies a nauseating repletion.

surfeited themselves with junk food

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cloy Lengua gyutan, or beef tongue, soaked in a creamy mushroom gravy, seemed destined to cloy but turned out to be smooth, balanced, and savory. — Jiayang Fan, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2022 But before such moments can cloy, Arbery usefully complicates his case. — New York Times, 22 June 2022 That sweetness can cloy if it’s not suitably chilled and diluted, which is why almost everyone chooses to make it on the rocks. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2021 The museum’s sacredness to many, including me, can cloy a little. — Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2021 See All Example Sentences for cloy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloy

Verb

Colors were suitably accurate and nicely saturated, and the image offered good contrast across the board from dark to bright scenes, along with impressively good shadow detail and a sense of three-dimensionality in dark scenes.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
That translated into a vibrant palette of rock ‘n roll, soul, metal, hip-hop, and of course the rich Seattle sound that saturates daily life for Jones.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of saturate

Verb

Beyond alleviating school traffic and stadium congestion, the project serves as a major utility corridor.

— Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Eric Talley, a law professor at Columbia University and corporate law expert, told CNBC that a merger could alleviate shareholders' worries about where Musk is spending his time and his companies' resources.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of alleviate

Verb

With that in mind, Haug suggests requesting balayage, a freehand hair-coloring technique that lightens strands without using foils, and looks a little more natural compared to traditional highlights.

— Jacqueline Kilikita, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
NewBeauty points to sun exposure, pigment placement and aftercare as key factors in how quickly those dots lighten.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of lighten

Verb

Those were the kinds of things that were musically gratifying to me — being able to put these kinds of pairings together.

— Daniel Kohn, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
In a statement, expedition leader Rick Pettigrew called the prospect of examining the object gratifying.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of gratify

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“Cloy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloy. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cloy

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