- Today's Word
Cloying
CLOY-ing
Definition
(adjective) Excessively sweet, sentimental, or rich to the point of being unpleasant.
Example
The romance in the movie was so cloying, it felt like satire.
Fun Fact
Originally from a Middle English word meaning “to satiate,” cloying refers to anything that overwhelms with sweetness—whether it’s actual sugar or emotional overkill. You’ll find it in critiques of everything from pop music lyrics to marketing campaigns that try way too hard to be heartwarming.
(verb) To obtain something by persuasion, scheming, or clever manipulation.
He managed to wangle an invitation to the exclusive event through a friend of a friend.
Late 19th century: originally printers’ slang, possibly an alteration of “waggle” meaning “to move unsteadily,” suggesting indirect or roundabout methods.