cloy

verb \ ˈklȯi \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Definition of cloy

cloyed; cloying; cloys

transitive verb

: to supply with an unwanted or distasteful excess usually of something originally pleasing

… Cordelia has been cloyed by her sisters' excessive protestations of affection …
—Rebecca West

intransitive verb

: to be or become insipid or distasteful usually through an excess of an originally pleasurable quality (such as sweetness)

… curious how the lemon keeps its bite when the sweet flavours have begun to cloy, and the crispness has departed.
—Eric Korn

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Recent Examples of cloy from the Web

On the other hand, semi-sweet or milk chocolate can sometimes be cloying because there isn’t that bitter contrast.

— jennifer farley, charlotteobserver, "What is umami anyway? A guide to cooking with flavor and spice | Charlotte Observer," 10 Apr. 2018
Unfortunately, everything else in this misadventure, from annoying love interests to cloying sidekicks, is a mine cart going off the rails. 30.

— brian truitt, USA TODAY, "All of Steven Spielberg's movies (including 'Ready Player One'), ranked," 28 Mar. 2018
In retrospect, some of the things that wouldn’t work quite as well about the series (like cloying, overobvious song choices) were present from the very first episode, too.

— todd vanderwerff, Slate Magazine, "The TV Club, 2017," 20 Dec. 2017
The slight smokiness of the Scotch and the ginger cut through the oft-cloying sweetness and thick texture of the eggnog.

— alyse whitney, Bon Appetit, "How 6 Bartenders Make Spiked Eggnog with the Store-Bought Stuff," 6 Dec. 2017
As in the previous films, the pilgrims stay in the most picturesque places, and are served the most sumptuous meals, the preparation of which Mr. Winterbottom uses as a visual digestif when his two stars begin to cloy.

— john anderson, WSJ, "‘The Trip to Spain’ Review: Urbane Comedy Hits the Road Again," 10 Aug. 2017
Instead, charm abounds: not cloying, but without consequence.

— alastair macaulay, New York Times, "Review: In ‘Principles of Uncertainty,’ Talking and Dancing About the Weather," 28 Sep. 2017
Holland calibrates this really well, turning in an endlessly likable performance that never cloys or grows sticky with precociousness.

— richard lawson, HWD, "Spider-Man: Homecoming Somehow Makes Us Want More Spider-Man Movies," 29 June 2017
What wasn’t cloying in that finale on Sunday was the music — the orchestra swirling and shining, the chorus rich and full-bodied.

— zachary woolfe, New York Times, "Review: Opera Lovers, Make a Pilgrimage to Munich for ‘Tannhäuser’," 23 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cloy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cloy

Middle English, to hinder, lame, alteration of acloyen to harm, maim, modification of Anglo-French encloer to nail, prick a horse with a nail in shoeing, from Medieval Latin inclavare, from Latin in + clavus nail

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1528

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of cloy

satiate, sate, surfeit, cloy, pall, glut, gorge mean to fill to repletion. satiate and sate may sometimes imply only complete satisfaction but more often suggest repletion that has destroyed interest or desire.