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
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
Speaking of on-the-nose metaphors, this show is one of the best around at queuing up songs on the soundtracks that are so very literal to what’s happening in the scene without being cloying about it.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 16 July 2025
Why Guava Is Summer 2025's Breakout Flavor Guava might not be as familiar as strawberry or raspberry jam, but its flavor is instantly crave-worthy—slightly floral and naturally sweet without being cloying.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2025
The alluring scent of chocolate, glorious chocolate, wafts toward you, sweet but not cloying, heady and intoxicating.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloying
Verb
The sole respite from the cloying ooze was the strawberries, which tasted wholesome by comparison.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
Speaking of on-the-nose metaphors, this show is one of the best around at queuing up songs on the soundtracks that are so very literal to what’s happening in the scene without being cloying about it.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 16 July 2025
Why Guava Is Summer 2025's Breakout Flavor Guava might not be as familiar as strawberry or raspberry jam, but its flavor is instantly crave-worthy—slightly floral and naturally sweet without being cloying.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2025
The alluring scent of chocolate, glorious chocolate, wafts toward you, sweet but not cloying, heady and intoxicating.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloying
Adjective
-
If anything, his films fight aggressively against a sentimental reading (There Will Be Blood, The Master, Phantom Thread) or pivot so hard into emotional catharsis that the fabric of reality breaks (Magnolia).—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
4 Oct. 2025
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The film benefits from its avoidance of a too-tidy, sentimental outcome, even if some in the audience might be left craving one.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In pastel satin, the shoe softened the architecture while saturating the butter tone that has been trending on red carpets all month.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
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English advises saturating natural hair mats with Designme’s leave-in treatment, then applying their rich hydrating mask before detangling (first pass with your fingers, then with a wide-tooth comb) from the ends to the roots.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To keep them from being a problem indoors in the first place, hang sticky traps in the garage near entrances to your home.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
10 Oct. 2025
-
That engagement with the sport – that sticky thing that separates casual viewers from lifelong fans — is buoyed and sustained online in the days between races.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Aside from the compelling morality of alleviating human suffering, this aid can provide a bulwark against foreign manipulation, the emergence of terrorist havens, the growth of black markets, and other security threats that arise from chronic underdevelopment and economic struggle.—
Don Graves,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Sep. 2025
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In Johansson’s case, her leather coat stands in contrast to her satin pants, alleviating some of the tension between the two competing shades.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The sloppy play extended beyond the penalties.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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The sweater’s hip-skimming length and relaxed cut result in a fit that feels effortlessly lived-in (not sloppy), while its wear-with-anything design is easy to style.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cloves are especially high in a polyphenol called eugenol, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
7 Oct. 2025
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Designed with the same pressure-relieving material found in its mattresses, the pillow adapts to the contours of your head and neck, easing tension and providing personalized support throughout the night.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But the duo eventually decided to move back to Shanghai to realize their creative vision — building a fantasy of a strong female character with a penchant for saccharine dresses.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
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The sweetness was subtle, not saccharine.—
Aisha Muharrar,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cloying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloying. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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