cloy

[kloi]

verb (used with object)

1. to weary by an excess of food, sweetness, pleasure, etc.; surfeit; satiate.

   Synonyms: bore, sate, glut

verb (used without object)

1. to become uninteresting or distasteful through overabundance.

   A diet of cake and candy soon cloys.

cloy

/ klɔɪ /

verb

1. to make weary or cause weariness through an excess of something initially pleasurable or sweet

Other Word Forms

• overcloy verb (used with object)
• uncloyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloy¹

1350–1400; aphetic variant of Middle English acloyen < Middle French enclo ( y ) er < Late Latin inclāvāre to nail in, equivalent to in- in- ² + -clāvāre, verbal derivative of clāvus nail

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloy¹

C14 (originally: to nail, hence, to obstruct): from earlier acloyen, from Old French encloer , from Medieval Latin inclavāre, from Latin clāvāre to nail, from clāvus a nail

Example Sentences

The results were rarely inedible, but often disconcerting: over-salted, over-spiced, somehow both cloying and sharp, like they couldn’t decide what they wanted to be.

From Salon

Conversely, you can also ignore the sugar aspect and cook down the cherries simply with just water — or, use a sugar-free substitute so there's still a touch of sweetness, but nothing too cloying.

From Salon

Brown sugar gives it a molasses depth and I hold back on the white sugar so things never veer into cloying.

From Salon

The filling has a surprising hint of salt, which cuts through the richness and prevents the donut from feeling cloying.

From Salon

The first version of this cake used only white sugar, and it was too one-note, too cloying.

From Salon

Related Words

• nauseate