saccharine

adjective

sac·​cha·​rine ˈsa-k(ə-)rən 

-kə-ˌrēn,

-kə-ˌrīn

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling that of sugar

saccharine taste

b

: yielding or containing sugar

saccharine vegetables

2

: overly or sickishly sweet

saccharine flavor

3

: ingratiatingly or affectedly agreeable or friendly

4

: overly sentimental : mawkish

a saccharine love story

saccharinity

ˌsa-kə-ˈri-nə-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• chocolate-box
• cloying
• corny
• drippy
• fruity
• gooey
• lovey-dovey
• maudlin
• mawkish
• mushy
• novelettish
• sappy
• schmaltzy
• sentimental
• sloppy
• slushy
• soppy
• soupy
• spoony
• spooney
• sticky
• sugarcoated
• sugary
• wet

Examples of saccharine in a Sentence

the movie was funny, but it had a saccharine ending in which everyone lives happily ever after

Recent Examples on the Web

For Chappell Roan’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert, the singer wore a saccharine fuchsia Betsey Johnson dress with a red beehive wig, which Webb festooned with cigarette butts. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 2 July 2024

The song is saccharine, soppy, and tongue-in-cheek, like all of Redd Kross’ best power pop songs. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2024

The executive chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph and his chef de cuisine, Karla Espinosa, will play with sweets, but also acidic, bitter, and umami flavors to ensure the dishes are not overly saccharine. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 27 June 2024

What is the ideal saccharine level in malt extract? —Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 25 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin saccharum

First Known Use

circa 1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

saccharine

adjective

sac·​cha·​rine ˈsak-(ə-)rən 

-ə-ˌrēn,

-ə-ˌrīn

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling sugar or its characteristics

saccharine taste

b

: producing or containing sugar

saccharine fluids

2

: overly sweet

a saccharine smile

Medical Definition

saccharine

adjective

sac·​cha·​rine

ˈsak-(ə-)rən also -ə-ˌrēn or -ə-ˌrīn

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling that of sugar

saccharine taste

b

: yielding or containing sugar

a saccharine fluid

2

: overly or sickeningly sweet

saccharine flavor