cloying 1 of 2

adjective

ˈklȯi-iŋ How to pronounce cloying (audio)
Definition of cloyingnext
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way the cloying sentiments of so many Mother's Day cards

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cloying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of cloy
as in saturating

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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 cloying
Adjective
Unfortunately, everything else in this misadventure, from annoying love interests to cloying sidekicks, is a minecart going off the rails. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 June 2026 Honey scent does not have to read as cloying, even on hot days. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026 Only at the start of April do these flowers begin to unfurl in delicate clusters, their petals heavy with dew and a sweet, cloying scent. — Amelia Dhuga, Vogue, 25 May 2026 And also very joyous without being sentimental or cloying. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cloying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloying
  1. sentimental
  2. saturating
  3. sticky
  4. alleviating
  5. sloppy
  6. relieving
  7. saccharine
Adjective
  • Amid all the festivities, the rapper also offered a sentimental toast.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the audience will wonder if the sentimental pummeling will ever end.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sentimental
Verb
  • Hazardous floods could occur if back-to-back storms dump heavy rains over several days, saturating the soil in the mountains and filling reservoirs.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Fortunately, labels both affordable and luxury are coming out with new takes on this trend like clockwork, saturating the market with colorful jackets for every personal aesthetic and practical need under the sun (or, more accurately, the rain).
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of saturating
Adjective
  • Will Brantley, president of the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said sticky and chewy candies tend to cling to teeth, leaving behind sugary residue that can contribute to cavities.
    — Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Build up of sticky food residue on bottom of ice cream mix coolers and the floor in front of units.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of sticky
Verb
  • Today, chatbots can run the actuarial numbers, potentially alleviating some uncertainty concerns by, say, offering a close approximation for achieving life milestones.
    — Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • These turnovers also set up touchdowns, alleviating the pent-up stress of the first half.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of alleviating
Adjective
  • Utah's most successful drive ended at the halftime break when Dillon Curtis missed a 34-yard field goalie to a sloppy snap-and-hold.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • And the need to blend all the sound together right before the ear canal can make the more complex instrumentation sound more sloppy than precise.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of sloppy
Verb
  • This can involve releasing residual propellant, relieving pressure, and discharging or disconnecting batteries to reduce the risk of accidental explosions.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • That incident displaced thousands until a crack formed in the overheating tank, relieving the pressure and ending the risk of explosion.
    — Lana Zak, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of relieving
Adjective
  • But that’s preferable to the movie’s swerve into saccharine grief therapy, as Jay starts communing with Mitt once the dead dad and the whale become a single soul.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Congenitally optimistic without being saccharine, Paul Baker was, in Season 2, the nexus of a love triangle in which his character felt torn between his girlfriend, Rao’s Issa, and his husband, Thiele’s Anton.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of saccharine

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Cite this Entry

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

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