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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Examples of cloying in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Suelain Moy, Parents, 14 June 2024
The balanced blend of chocolate and vanilla, anchored in seductive Hinoki wood, makes this scent sweet without feeling cloying.
—Pia Velasco, Allure, 10 June 2024
The icing was sweet but not cloying, with a touch of lemon.
—Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The mask, which has the slightly sweet but not cloying fragrance of edelweiss extract, went on smoothly and dried without pulling on my face.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cloying 
Adjective
What Parents Like: The action is never too cloying or sweet, thanks to Will Ferrell's innocent elf-child, who is sweet, hyper, and excitable.
—Suelain Moy, Parents, 14 June 2024
The balanced blend of chocolate and vanilla, anchored in seductive Hinoki wood, makes this scent sweet without feeling cloying.
—Pia Velasco, Allure, 10 June 2024
The icing was sweet but not cloying, with a touch of lemon.
—Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The mask, which has the slightly sweet but not cloying fragrance of edelweiss extract, went on smoothly and dried without pulling on my face.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cloying
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cloying.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Cloying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloying. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.
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