1
chiefly British
a
: molasses
b
: a blend of molasses, invert sugar, and corn syrup used as syrup
called also golden syrup
2
: something (such as a tone of voice) heavily sweet and cloying
3
: a medicinal compound formerly in wide use as a remedy against poison
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Treacle begins in ancient Greece. The Greek word thēriakos, meaning "of a wild animal," came from thērion ("wild animal"). Since wild animals are often known to bite, these words gave rise to thēriakē, meaning "antidote against a poisonous bite." Latin borrowed thēriakē as theriaca. Those roots gave life to treacle referring to molasses (developing from the "antidote" sense). The "molasses" sense was extended to things excessively sweet or sentimental.
Examples of treacle in a Sentence
The book is ruined by all the treacle about his childhood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Save room for dessert, a sticky treat of medjool dates, black treacle, baharat chantilly and crumble.
—
Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The fixture congestion is not causing every fitness problem, far from it, but medical progress can only mitigate so much when players are running through treacle.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
This wonderful complexity culminates in a generous, Oloroso-like finish, dancing with treacle, tobacco, and mahogany tones.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
After a morning in the surf, Cape Weligama’s open-air Ocean Terrace restaurant offered a feast: thick, creamy buffalo curd served with coconut treacle; baskets of lacy, crisp egg hoppers; fragrant green bean yellow curry served with regional red rice and crispy pappadums.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treacle
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Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The fixture congestion is not causing every fitness problem, far from it, but medical progress can only mitigate so much when players are running through treacle.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
This wonderful complexity culminates in a generous, Oloroso-like finish, dancing with treacle, tobacco, and mahogany tones.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
After a morning in the surf, Cape Weligama’s open-air Ocean Terrace restaurant offered a feast: thick, creamy buffalo curd served with coconut treacle; baskets of lacy, crisp egg hoppers; fragrant green bean yellow curry served with regional red rice and crispy pappadums.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treacle
Cite this Entry
“Treacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treacle. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
treacle
noun
trea·cle
ˈtrē-kəl 
: a medicinal compound formerly in wide use as a remedy against poison
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