cloyed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'cloyed' is correct and usable in written English.
It means to become or cause to become excessively sweet, rich, or sentimental to the point of being unpleasant. Example: After eating too much candy, I felt cloyed and couldn't even finish my dessert.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Her phrases were like kisses, he told her, or honey that never cloyed.

The Economist

We all sympathise with the French after the terrible attacks in Paris, and are mindful that such outrages could easily happen here, but we serve no purpose by allowing our thinking to be cloyed.

The Guardian - Opinion

If the box has cloyed your appetite for the wonders of the wild, prepare to be amazed all over again.

The Guardian - Film

As Coburn, a raspberry swirl of red face and white hat, jacket and moustache, brandished the winning trophy, only the most leaden of hearts would have failed to have been moved as the sheer euphoria and happiness of the occasion cloyed in his throat, rendering him all but speechless for what I'd hesitate to guess is the first time in his life.

The Guardian - Sport

"It cloyed very quickly," she said.

The New York Times - Books

It was not her way to say all was well, that because of her work everything was good; there was a presumption in that she didn't care for, and such sentiments cloyed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It is a celebratory, emotional film without cloying sentiment, which is no small achievement.

The Guardian - Film

The language is cloying—"a flavour experience no other ordinary whisky can match"—but seems to work.In this section The Walmart of the web Flight to the future The glossy posse Big business Sipping from the fire hose Keep on walking Now you own it, now you don't The trouble with superheroes ReprintsAs Africans grow richer, they drink more Scotch.

The Economist

Narrative tension is maintained, secrets are kept, but never at the cost of being befuddling.Yet the novel is marred by a cloying quality, and the children are often too precious.

The Economist

But in amongst the cloying fluff there were some good stories.

The Economist

Her cultivation of Jesse Helms, the rock-ribbed Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (including giving him a T-shirt that reads, "Someone at the State Department Loves Me"), is pretty cloying.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cloyed" to describe experiences that initially seem pleasant but become overwhelming due to excess, such as rich desserts or overly sentimental gestures.

Common error

Avoid using "cloyed" simply to mean 'disliked'. "Cloyed" implies an initial positive impression that soured due to overabundance or excess. Using it incorrectly dilutes its specific meaning.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cloyed" is as the past participle of the verb 'cloy'. It's used to describe a state of being overwhelmed by something excessively rich, sweet, or sentimental. Ludwig AI confirms the correct usage, exemplified by sentences where emotions or flavors become unpleasant due to overabundance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

17%

Lifestyle

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cloyed" describes the state of being overwhelmed by something initially pleasant that has become distasteful due to excess. Ludwig AI validates the grammatical correctness of the term, though its frequency is rare. Predominantly found in News & Media and Encyclopedias, "cloyed" carries a neutral register, suitable for expressing experiences soured by overabundance. When using "cloyed", remember to convey the initial positive impression that subsequently turned unpleasant. Avoid simple substitutions like "disliked"; maintain the term's unique implication of excess. Ultimately, using "satiated" or "lost its appeal" are some alternatives, although bear in mind the importance of the nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became sickeningly sweet

This alternative emphasizes the negative effect of excessive sweetness, similar to how "cloyed" suggests an unpleasant excess.

lost its appeal

This alternative focuses on the diminishing attraction of something due to overuse or overindulgence, mirroring the effect of being "cloyed".

became tiresome

This alternative emphasizes the weariness that results from something being too rich or abundant, aligning with the sense of "cloyed".

turned unpleasant

This focuses on the shift from something enjoyable to something undesirable because of excess, much like "cloyed" indicates.

became excessive

This highlights the overabundance that leads to a negative experience, akin to the feeling of being "cloyed".

satiated to excess

Emphasizes the state of being overly full or satisfied to a point of discomfort, similar to the feeling of being "cloyed".

reached a saturation point

This captures the idea of something becoming so abundant that it loses its appeal, similar to the effect of being "cloyed".

became overwhelming

This highlights the feeling of being overpowered by something, often due to its intensity or excess, similar to the impact of being "cloyed".

lost its novelty

Focuses on the diminishing appeal of something due to repeated exposure, akin to how something "cloyed" loses its charm.

became wearisome

This alternative conveys the sense of something causing fatigue or boredom due to its excess or repetitiveness, much like being "cloyed".

FAQs

How can I use "cloyed" in a sentence?

You can use "cloyed" to describe something that was initially enjoyable but became unpleasant due to excess, such as "The sweetness of the dessert eventually cloyed."

What's a good synonym for "cloyed"?

A good synonym for "cloyed" is "satiated", which conveys a feeling of being overly full or satisfied to the point of discomfort.

Is "cloyed" a formal or informal word?

"Cloyed" is neither particularly formal nor informal. It is suitable for use in both news articles and books.

What's the difference between "cloyed" and "repulsed"?

"Cloyed" implies an initial attraction that diminished due to excess, while "repulsed" indicates an immediate and strong aversion. They are not interchangeable.