cloudlike

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cloudlike" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that resembles or has qualities similar to clouds, often in terms of appearance or texture. Example: "The artist painted a landscape with cloudlike formations that seemed to float above the horizon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Food

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A single bite of cloudlike scallop-and-lobster dumpling in cherrystone-scented soup testifies to the benefits of the process.

The New York Times - Food

Its ownership structure is set up to protect that vision.Ironically, there is something rather cloudlike about the multiple complaints surrounding Google.

The Economist

He created an ethereal, semitransparent grid of white steel tubes that merged with the landscape, at once cloudlike and formal in its composition.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This structure is termed the electric double layer and is illustrated in Figure 2. Thermal motion of the positive ions in the solution makes the condenser plate on the electrolyte side of the interface diffuse i.e., the ions are distributed in a cloudlike way.

Encyclopedia Britannica

During the early 1920s Hubble detected 15 stars in the small, irregular cloudlike object NGC 6822 that varied in luminosity, and he suspected that they might include Cepheids.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A few small nebulous, or cloudlike, patches in the night sky are visible to the naked eye and had been mentioned by ancient Greek and medieval Arabic astronomers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In most cases, interstellar matter occurs in cloudlike concentrations, which sometimes condense enough to form stars.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The brightest of these cloudlike objects are the emission nebulae, large complexes of interstellar gas and stars in which the gas exists in an ionized and excited state (with the electrons of the atoms excited to a higher than normal energy level).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The day before, flying over the same island in another helicopter, she had noticed a milky, cloudlike formation in the water off a rocky point — the milt, or sperm, of spawning herring.

The New Yorker

"I backed the lace in thin layers of cream silk radzimir and cloudlike silk netting," she writes.

The New Yorker

Madame de Merteuil, Les Liaisonss Dangereuses" Brillat Savarin The unctuous melt of the triple-cream Brillat Savarin, with its ludicrously cloudlike yet rich constitution and its sharp and shallow savor, is reminiscent of that most cruel and aristocratic Frenchwoman, Madame de Merteuil.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cloudlike" to describe textures or appearances that are reminiscent of clouds, adding a sense of lightness or softness to your description. For example, a "cloudlike" béchamel sauce suggests a light, airy texture rather than simply a white color.

Common error

Avoid using "cloudlike" simply as a synonym for "white" or "soft" if the resemblance to a cloud is not evident. Ensure the context implies a visual or tactile similarity to clouds for the description to be effective and accurate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cloudlike" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that resembles a cloud or has qualities similar to clouds. Examples on Ludwig show it describing textures, shapes, and formations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Encyclopedias

14%

Arts

14%

Less common in

Food

11%

Travel

6%

Lifestyle

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "cloudlike" functions primarily as an adjective, enriching descriptions with the qualities of clouds—lightness, softness, and ethereality. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage, with diverse examples from news and media, encyclopedias, and food writing. While synonyms like "cloudy", "fluffy", and "ethereal" exist, "cloudlike" uniquely emphasizes the visual or tactile resemblance to clouds. For effective writing, use "cloudlike" when a direct comparison to clouds is intended, and avoid misusing it as a generic descriptor. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker underscores its acceptability in both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cloudy

More common and direct synonym, lacking the nuanced texture implied by "cloudlike".

nebulous

Emphasizes a vague, indistinct quality similar to a nebula, often used in a more abstract sense than "cloudlike".

fluffy

Focuses on the light and airy texture, often used for food or materials, and less on appearance compared to "cloudlike".

ethereal

Highlights the delicate and light quality, adding a sense of otherworldliness absent in a simple description of "cloudlike".

airy

Emphasizes lightness and spaciousness, often used to describe environments or textures, less specific to cloud resemblance than "cloudlike".

billowy

Suggests a swelling, undulating form, emphasizing movement and shape not always present in "cloudlike".

cottony

Compares texture to cotton, focusing on softness and lightness, less versatile than "cloudlike" which can describe appearance and texture.

fleecy

Similar to cottony, but evokes the image of wool fleece, highlighting warmth and softness in addition to lightness, while "cloudlike" is more neutral.

vaporous

Implies a gaseous or misty quality, focusing on substance rather than shape, unlike "cloudlike".

cumulous

Specifically refers to cumulus clouds, a scientific and less versatile alternative than the general descriptive "cloudlike".

FAQs

How can I use "cloudlike" in a sentence?

You can use "cloudlike" to describe something resembling a cloud in appearance or texture, such as "The dessert had a "cloudlike texture"" or "The installation featured "cloudlike shapes" suspended from the ceiling".

What's a simple synonym for "cloudlike"?

A simple synonym for "cloudlike" is "cloudy", but "cloudlike" often implies a more delicate or ethereal quality.

How does "cloudlike" differ from "fluffy"?

"Cloudlike" suggests a visual resemblance to clouds, while "fluffy" emphasizes a light, airy texture. You might describe a pillow as fluffy, but a vaporous art installation as cloudlike.

Is it appropriate to use "cloudlike" in formal writing?

Yes, "cloudlike" is appropriate in formal writing when used descriptively and accurately. Ludwig AI confirms that "cloudlike" is correct and usable in written English. Ensure the context warrants its specific connotation of cloud resemblance.