sugary

American  

[shoog-uh-ree] / ˈʃʊg ə ri /

adjective

1. of, containing, or resembling sugar.

2. sweet; excessively sweet.

3. honeyed; cloying; deceitfully agreeable.

   sugary words of greeting.

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sugary British  

/ ˈʃʊɡərɪ /

adjective

1. of, like, or containing sugar

2. containing too much sugar; excessively sweet

3. deceptively pleasant; insincere

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Other Word Forms

• sugariness noun
• unsugary adjective

Etymology

Origin of sugary

First recorded in 1585–95; sugar + -y ¹

Explanation

Something that's literally sugary is extremely sweet, like a sugary root beer float. If something is figuratively sugary, it's overly sentimental. Candy corn, soft drinks, and jelly beans are all sugary — and so is the sappy Valentine's Day card your sister wrote to her crush. The adjective sugary comes from sugar, an English word that, unusually, traces its origin back to Sanskrit. Sugar comes from sharkara, "ground or candied sugar."

Example Sentences

I also largely steer clear of sugary drinks and processed meats like bacon and sausage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Ultra-processed foods include a wide range of packaged and convenience items such as chips, crackers, frozen meals, processed meats, sugary drinks, breakfast cereals and breads.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

Irish potatoes are the perfect sugary, bite-sized treat.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

It is possible that teens who already experience anxiety may consume more sugary drinks.

From Science Daily • Feb. 18, 2026

He offered that up like some promising, sugary treat.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

Related Words

• cloying
• sappy
• sentimental