as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
the cloying sentiments of so many Mother's Day cards
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Recent Examples of cloying
Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025
But as any naysayers of the ready-to-drink (RTD) category will point out, pre-mixed cocktails can be clunky — cloying and sickly sweet, unbalanced, or laden with faux flavors of lime or other once-fresh ingredients.
—Kate Dingwall, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Warren comes off as shrill and cloying when compared with Julie Andrews' perfect voice and unaffected sweetness, and the high-school-grade set design and categorically ugly costumes are that much more dismal when compared to the vivid production of the 1997 fairy tale.
—EW.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Hainan chicken rice is maybe my favorite chicken dish — nourishing but not heavy, comforting but not cloying.
—Mia Leimkuhler, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloying
Adjective
Unfortunately cloying ending aside, Gere and Lane are magnetic leads, and their chemistry feels real despite the film’s weaknesses.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025
But as any naysayers of the ready-to-drink (RTD) category will point out, pre-mixed cocktails can be clunky — cloying and sickly sweet, unbalanced, or laden with faux flavors of lime or other once-fresh ingredients.
—Kate Dingwall, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Warren comes off as shrill and cloying when compared with Julie Andrews' perfect voice and unaffected sweetness, and the high-school-grade set design and categorically ugly costumes are that much more dismal when compared to the vivid production of the 1997 fairy tale.
—EW.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Hainan chicken rice is maybe my favorite chicken dish — nourishing but not heavy, comforting but not cloying.
—Mia Leimkuhler, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloying
Adjective
-
Strahovski and her family said their goodbyes to the city in a sentimental post in February 2025.—
Emy LaCroix,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The British monarch and his longtime partner, who celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, marked the sentimental milestone on Monday with a pair of portraits shared on social media.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Pitchers were becoming too dominant with the sticky stuff.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Aphids excrete the sap as honeydew, leaving leaves sticky and susceptible to sooty mold.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Research — a survey of 109 CEOs of major Canadian organizations, complemented by in-depth qualitative interviews with 46 of them — suggests six strategies for alleviating loneliness that leaders can employ.—
Alaric Bourgoin,
Sarah L. Wright,
Jean-François Harvey,
Saouré Kouamé,
Harvard Business Review,
23 Dec. 2024
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Much of this latest round of donations went to organizations focused on alleviating poverty, Scott wrote in a blog post on Wednesday.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.,
CNBC,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Had the veteran made sloppy errors or been at blame for any goals conceded, Farke would have been left with nowhere else to turn.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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During Nebraska’s run, Cardenas endured an uncharacteristic sloppy spell, turning over the ball six times in the first half.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Archway Homes will buy the home and make the repairs needed, relieving the sellers of the hassle and expense.—
Archway Homes,
Kansas City Star,
5 Jan. 2025
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Xylitol may have other health benefits, including preventing ear and sinus infections, increasing bone density, and relieving constipation.—
Adrienne Dellwo,
Verywell Health,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Those tackling the sweetest desserts — nanaimo bars and jam jams — are understandably stressed about translating saccharine flavors into something that reads savory.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
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So Far Not to be mistaken for a saccharine tale about forgiveness, South of Midnight’s plot consistently subverts expectations.—
Sarah Thwaites,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cloying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloying. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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