variants
or less commonly caky
cakier; cakiest
1
: resembling cake especially in texture
cakey cookies
Some people like their brownies on the cakey side, and some feel they should be more like fudge.—
Laurie Colwin
Laurie Colwin2
: unpleasantly or unattractively thick or uneven
—usually used of cosmetic products
"Full coverage foundations tend to settle into fine lines and can look cakey or heavy on the skin," said one such [makeup] artist, Monika Blunder.—Kristen Bateman
Kristen BatemanEveryone remembers the cakey nude lipsticks of the Eighties, but today's promise a much more subtle effect.—Kate Battersby
Kate BattersbyBefore you toss that lackluster lipstick or caky concealer, check these tricks for repurposing those unflattering beauty buys.—Paige DePaolis
Paige DePaolisExamples of cakey in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For anyone who’s grown tired of juggling multiple base products or dealing with cakey foundations, this tinted SPF offers a refreshing alternative.
—Olivia Cefalu, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Whether enjoyed during Purim or another time of year, these cookies offer up a sweet and ever so slightly salty flavor with a nice crispy exterior and a somehow simultaneously flaky and cakey interior.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
The result lands somewhere between fudgy and cakey—in the best possible way—and feels right at home as a snack, dessert, or lunchbox treat.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
And while the mattes of that time felt heavy or cakey, formulas today are a lot more advanced.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
The sheer wash of color looks youthful and fresh—not cakey.
—Shalwah Evans, Glamour, 15 Dec. 2025
In fact, Mondelēz is rolling out several new cookies – big, small, thin, and cakey – this year and into next.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
My preference for a soft cakey cookie can probably be traced back to my love for these.
—Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Nov. 2025
This beginner-friendly cream blush blends into the skin like a dream, providing a natural flush that never looks cakey.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Nov. 2025
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Olivia Cefalu, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Whether enjoyed during Purim or another time of year, these cookies offer up a sweet and ever so slightly salty flavor with a nice crispy exterior and a somehow simultaneously flaky and cakey interior.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
The result lands somewhere between fudgy and cakey—in the best possible way—and feels right at home as a snack, dessert, or lunchbox treat.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
And while the mattes of that time felt heavy or cakey, formulas today are a lot more advanced.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
The sheer wash of color looks youthful and fresh—not cakey.
—Shalwah Evans, Glamour, 15 Dec. 2025
In fact, Mondelēz is rolling out several new cookies – big, small, thin, and cakey – this year and into next.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
My preference for a soft cakey cookie can probably be traced back to my love for these.
—Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Nov. 2025
This beginner-friendly cream blush blends into the skin like a dream, providing a natural flush that never looks cakey.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cakey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cakey. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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