cloy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, Formal, Descriptive
Quick answer
What does “cloy” mean?
To cause disgust or annoyance due to excess, especially of something pleasurable, making it eventually unpleasant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause disgust or annoyance due to excess, especially of something pleasurable, making it eventually unpleasant.
To surfeit or sicken with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentimentality, leading to a feeling of weariness or revulsion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used similarly in both dialects.
Connotations
Strongly associated with literary or refined criticism, often of food, art, or emotional displays.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both dialects, slightly more common in written, descriptive texts than in speech.
Grammar
How to Use “cloy” in a Sentence
[sth] cloys[sth] cloys on [sb][sth] begins to cloyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cloy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The treacle tart was delicious at first, but its sweetness soon began to cloy.
- After a fortnight, the constant pampering at the spa started to cloy.
American English
- The syrup was so heavy it cloyed after one bite.
- The movie's sentimental soundtrack cloyed on me after the first hour.
adverb
British English
- The perfume smelled cloyingly sweet.
- She smiled cloyingly, which put everyone on edge.
American English
- The dessert was cloyingly rich.
- He spoke cloyingly, trying too hard to be charming.
adjective
British English
- The cloying scent of lilies filled the room unpleasantly.
- He found her cloying attentions rather oppressive.
American English
- The frosting had a cloying, artificial sweetness.
- I avoid shows with cloying sentimentality.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially used metaphorically in marketing critiques: 'The campaign's sentimental message began to cloy.'
Academic
Used in literary, cultural, or sensory analysis to describe oppressive excess.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used by a food critic or in describing an overly sweet dessert.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cloy”
- Using it for simple boredom: 'The lecture cloyed me.' (Incorrect).
- Using the adjective 'cloy' as a verb: 'It was very cloy.' (Incorrect; the adjective is 'cloying').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While often used for taste, it effectively describes any excess that becomes unpleasant, like cloying sentimentality, cloying perfume, or cloying affection.
No. It is a mid to low-frequency word, more common in written English (literary criticism, food writing) than in everyday conversation.
'Satiate' means to satisfy fully, often neutrally or positively. 'Cloy' means to disgust or weary by exceeding satisfaction, carrying a negative connotation.
Not directly. The verb is 'cloy'. The adjective form is 'cloying' (e.g., a cloying smell). The adverb is 'cloyingly'.
To cause disgust or annoyance due to excess, especially of something pleasurable, making it eventually unpleasant.
Cloy is usually literary, formal, descriptive in register.
Cloy: in British English it is pronounced /klɔɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /klɔɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A cloying sweetness (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CLOY' as 'CLOYing sweetness' – like too much chocolate making you feel sick (CLOY = Chocolate Loses its Appeal, Yuck!).
Conceptual Metaphor
PLEASURE IS FOOD / TOO MUCH PLEASURE IS SICKENING FOOD.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'cloy' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?