verb
cloy
KLOY/klɔɪ/
To become unpleasant through too much sweetness, richness, or sentiment.
The frosting tastes delicious at first, but its sweetness cloys.
Etymology
The nail connection runs through fastening and hindering, then figuratively overfilling until enjoyment turns to weariness. Sweetness, richness, or sentiment cloys when there is too much to enjoy.
More examples
- The movie's constant sentimentality begins to cloy.
- After a few bites, the rich sauce cloyed.
- The novel's sugary dialogue cloys long before the final chapter.
Forms
cloy · cloys · cloyed · cloying
Similar words
- pall
- Means losing appeal through familiarity, not necessarily sweetness or richness.
- sicken
- Suggests stronger nausea or disgust, not necessarily caused by excess.