excessively sweet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessively sweet" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has an overwhelming or too high level of sweetness, often in reference to food or beverages. Example: "The dessert was so excessively sweet that I could only take a few bites before feeling overwhelmed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Craft was a definite no, it was just so twee," or excessively sweet.

The New York Times - Arts

Chocolate soufflé cake with saffron honey was excessively sweet and the white chocolate and ginger pane cotta came buried beneath a super-syrupy pink sauce.

The New York Times

Overseen by Mr. Roth, who is also from Germany, Wölffer Estate wines are often described as continental in style, richly fruity without being excessively sweet.

The New York Times

(The only sauce that disappointed me came with the bland vegetarian dish malai kofta. The vegetable balls were mealy and too characterless for my taste, and the raisin-spiked almond sauce was excessively sweet).

The New York Times

But a lovely pork chop could have used more subtle accompaniments: The mango-bourbon sauce proved excessively sweet, and the flavor of the whipped sweet potatoes was too strong.

The New York Times

Subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 meals: vanilla custard with acesulfame-K (LA, excessively sweet) or without it (HA).

Nutrition Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"So not excessively excessive.

The New York Times

The latest Broadway songfest to trade on fond associations generated by a popular movie (in this case Stephen Frears's 2000 film of the same title, adapted from Nick Hornby's 1995 novel), "High Fidelity" is not mean-spirited, sticky sweet, stress-inducing, excessively loud, cutesy or pushy.

The New York Times

Working yourself to death - The Jakarta Post's Nury Vittachi notes that God surrounds naturally wicked people with excessively nice people, which is why sweet-natured employees pay the price when big, slick organisations act wickedly.

BBC

Everyone excessively tidy, excessively generous.

The New Yorker

Silly, excessively sober me.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food or beverages, consider the context and audience to determine if "excessively sweet" is the most appropriate term. Sometimes, more descriptive adjectives like "cloying" or "sickly" might better convey the intended meaning.

Common error

While "excessively sweet" is grammatically correct, avoid using it excessively in formal writing, especially in academic or business reports. Opt for more precise and professional terms depending on the specific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively sweet" primarily functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to indicate that something has a degree of sweetness that is beyond what is considered normal or desirable. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excessively sweet" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe something with an undesirable level of sweetness. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, its neutral register makes it adaptable for various forms of writing. When using this phrase, consider whether alternatives like "cloyingly sweet" or "overly sweet" might be more precise for your intended meaning. Finally, while technically correct, this phrase is a suboptimal choice in very formal writing. The frequency is uncommon, with eight examples found.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overly sweet

Indicates a surplus of sweetness, similar to "excessively sweet" but slightly less formal.

too sweet

A more general term indicating an undesirable level of sweetness.

cloyingly sweet

Suggests an unpleasant level of sweetness that is overwhelming or sickening.

sickly sweet

Implies an unwholesome or artificial sweetness.

intensely sweet

Highlights the high degree of sweetness without necessarily implying a negative judgment.

extremely sweet

Similar to intensely sweet, but can be used in both positive and negative contexts.

unpleasantly sweet

Explicitly states that the level of sweetness is undesirable.

aggressively sweet

Suggests that the sweetness is overpowering and dominant.

over-sugared

Specifically refers to the addition of too much sugar.

sugar-laden

Describes something containing a large amount of sugar.

FAQs

What does "excessively sweet" mean?

The phrase "excessively sweet" describes something that has a higher level of sweetness than desired or expected. It often carries a negative connotation, implying that the sweetness is overwhelming or unpleasant.

How can I use "excessively sweet" in a sentence?

You can use "excessively sweet" to describe the taste of food or drinks, for example: "The cake was "excessively sweet", making it difficult to eat more than a slice."

What are some alternatives to "excessively sweet"?

Some alternatives to "excessively sweet" include "overly sweet", "too sweet", "cloyingly sweet", or "sickly sweet", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "excessively sweet" or "very sweet"?

"Very sweet" simply indicates a high level of sweetness, while "excessively sweet" implies that the sweetness is beyond what is desirable or acceptable. The choice depends on whether you want to express a negative judgment about the level of sweetness.