cloying sweetness

Meaning

An excessive sweetness that quickly becomes unpleasant, sickening, or overwhelming. It is often used to describe food, drinks, or perfumes, but can also metaphorically describe overly sentimental behavior.

Examples

• The dessert was ruined by the cloying sweetness of the cheap icing.

  The dessert was ruined by the cloying sweetness of the cheap icing.

• I found the dessert wine to have a cloying sweetness that overpowered the cheese.

  I found the dessert wine to have a cloying sweetness that overpowered the cheese.

• Adding a splash of lemon juice cuts through the cloying sweetness of the jam.

  Adding a splash of lemon juice cuts through the cloying sweetness of the jam.

• The pastry had a cloying sweetness that made it hard to finish even a single bite.

  The pastry had a cloying sweetness that made it hard to finish even a single bite.

• She dislikes milk chocolate because of what she calls its cloying sweetness.

  She dislikes milk chocolate because of what she calls its cloying sweetness.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The cake has a crying sweetness.

  ✓ The cake has a cloying sweetness.

  "Cloying" is a highly specific adjective that is often misheard or misspelled as "crying" or "glowing" by English learners.

• ✗ I love this cloying sweetness candy.

  ✓ I love this sweet candy, but this one has a cloying sweetness.

  "Cloying sweetness" is a noun phrase with negative connotations. Avoid using it to describe foods you actually enjoy, as it implies the sweetness is disgusting or sickening.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The chef added lime juice to balance the ___ of the mango puree.

  💡 Excessive, unpleasant sweet taste.

  Show answer

  cloying sweetness

• I couldn't finish the cake because of its ___.

  💡 Overwhelmingly sugary flavor.

  Show answer

  cloying sweetness