cloying
/ˈklɔɪ.ɪŋ/
Group 34Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Disgustingly or excessively sweet, sentimental, or flattering GRE
Example in Context
The film's cloying sentimentality, relying on emotional manipulation rather than genuine character development, left critics largely unimpressed.
Etymology
Characterized by excessive sweetness or sentiment.
- cloy (Middle English) — to satiate
- -ing (English) — characterized by
Memory Aid
🍭Sounds like “cloying”
When you eat too much candy and feel like you're drowning in a CLOTH of sweetness — it's CLO-YING!
Visual Association
🤢A person overwhelmed by a mountain of cotton candy, looking queasy from the sweetness.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “cloying” mean on the GRE?
cloying (adjective) means “Disgustingly or excessively sweet, sentimental, or flattering”. The film's cloying sentimentality, relying on emotional manipulation rather than genuine character development, left critics largely unimpressed.
How to remember “cloying” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “cloying” sounds like “cloying”. When you eat too much candy and feel like you're drowning in a CLOTH of sweetness — it's CLO-YING!