- present participle of cloy.
cloying
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But these attempts largely come off as cloying, even silly.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
“Very fresh and sweet, but not in a cloying way. I could smell it all day.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
The salt sharpens the citrus and makes the sweetness feel brighter rather than cloying.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
Such a cloying tone from the queen of bitterness!
From Slate ● May 6, 2026
Its perfume was delicate, changing from moment to moment, sometimes light and fresh, then heavy and cloying.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Vocabulary lists containing cloying
Sickly Sweet Treats: Sappy and Insincere Valentine Words
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100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
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Pie Chart: Dessert Words
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