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
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Mocha landed on the more cloying end and the Salted Caramel much more reminiscent of asking your barista to add just one or two flavor shots.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2025
His frequent use of direct-to-camera narration initially seems like a cloying misstep (mostly because so many other movies have sucked the fun out of that device).
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
The cloying missive goes on to explain that Google didn't really want to ban all those accounts, but Biden administration officials just kept asking.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloying
Adjective
And lest the moment lean too cloying or sentimental, this shot’s earnestness is undercut with a playful wink.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Mocha landed on the more cloying end and the Salted Caramel much more reminiscent of asking your barista to add just one or two flavor shots.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2025
His frequent use of direct-to-camera narration initially seems like a cloying misstep (mostly because so many other movies have sucked the fun out of that device).
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
The cloying missive goes on to explain that Google didn't really want to ban all those accounts, but Biden administration officials just kept asking.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloying
Adjective
-
Welsh has a distinct desire to stay away from sappy and sentimental, too tidy for such a messy story.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
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In April, don’t miss the rollout of Mother’s Day cards, from funny and quirky to sweet and sentimental.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Avoid saturating the mattress — over-wetting is one of the most common mistakes people make, and excess moisture trapped inside the mattress can lead to mold growth, creating an entirely new allergen problem.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Avoid puddling or saturating the soil.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough that is slightly sticky, 5 minutes.—
Emily Teel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Some scrapers feature a curved tip for working with sticky ingredients.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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China reported higher producer prices for the first time since 2022, alleviating fears of persistent deflation in the world’s second-biggest economy, but driving concerns of a global wave of inflation resulting from the Iran war.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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The good news is that the upcoming rain will push back the start of this year’s high fire season, alleviating some concerns following the recent record-breaking heat wave.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Nico Hoerner hit a leadoff homer and then delivered an RBI double during a five-run fifth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the sloppy Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Still, plushy, squelchy chairs don’t have to look sloppy either.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Key Takeaways Peppermint oil may begin relieving headache pain within 30 minutes when applied topically.—
T'Keyah Bazin,
Verywell Health,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Khosla’s counter-vision—federal reform that taxes capital more aggressively while relieving the burden on working Americans—is designed to be a policy that billionaires can live with and workers can vote for.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Many imitation almond extracts or essences rely on synthetic benzaldehyde for flavor, which can create saccharine notes that overpower delicate desserts like custards, sponges, or pastry creams.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
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In comparison, herts on fire’s linear indie folk ends up feeling somewhat saccharine.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cloying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloying. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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