saccharine

American  

[sak-er-in, -uh-reen, -uh-rahyn] / ˈsæk ər ɪn, -əˌrin, -əˌraɪn /

adjective

1. of the nature of or resembling that of sugar.

   a powdery substance with a saccharine taste.

2. containing or yielding sugar.

3. very sweet to the taste; sugary.

   a saccharine dessert.

4. cloyingly agreeable or ingratiating.

   a saccharine personality.

5. exaggeratedly sweet or sentimental.

   a saccharine smile; a saccharine song of undying love.

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saccharine British  

/ -ˌriːn, ˈsækəˌraɪn, ˌsækəˈrɪnɪtɪ /

adjective

1. excessively sweet; sugary

   a saccharine smile

2. of, relating to, of the nature of, or containing sugar or saccharin

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Other Word Forms

• nonsaccharine adjective
• nonsaccharinity noun
• saccharinely adverb
• saccharinity noun
• unsaccharine adjective

Etymology

Origin of saccharine

First recorded in 1665–75; sacchar- + -ine ¹

Example Sentences

I think any “Rah-Rah Girl Power” space that doesn’t allow real room for that is kind of saccharine and thin.

From The Wall Street Journal

LinkedIn users will be familiar with the saccharine positivity of users explaining how their latest promotion or honor makes them feel humbled and grateful.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now the late-night animation channel has a new offering: “Haha, You Clowns,” which is much in the same vein of saccharine sincerity mixed with awkward absurdity.

From Salon

The follow-up continues this kookiness with a madhouse spoof of Hallmark holiday saccharine in which a woodpile becomes a homicidal monster.

From Salon

It’s a deceptively saccharine world, one that she sees as, in her words, a “poisonous lollipop.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cloying
• sentimental
• syrupy
• twee