cloy

verb

Definition of cloynext
as in to saturate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cloy different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cloy are glut, gorge, pall, sate, satiate, and surfeit. While all these words mean "to fill to repletion," cloy stresses the disgust or boredom resulting from such surfeiting.

sentimental pictures that cloy after a while

When is glut a more appropriate choice than cloy?

The synonyms glut and cloy are sometimes interchangeable, but glut implies excess in feeding or supplying.

a market glutted with diet books

When could gorge be used to replace cloy?

In some situations, the words gorge and cloy are roughly equivalent. However, gorge suggests glutting to the point of bursting or choking.

gorged themselves with chocolate

When would pall be a good substitute for cloy?

While the synonyms pall and cloy are close in meaning, pall emphasizes the loss of ability to stimulate interest or appetite.

a life of leisure eventually begins to pall

How do satiate and sate relate to one another, in the sense of cloy?

Both satiate and sate may sometimes imply only complete satisfaction but more often suggest repletion that has destroyed interest or desire.

years of globe-trotting had satiated their interest in travel
readers were sated with sensationalistic stories

When is it sensible to use surfeit instead of cloy?

The meanings of surfeit and cloy largely overlap; however, surfeit implies a nauseating repletion.

surfeited themselves with junk food

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cloy Lengua gyutan, or beef tongue, soaked in a creamy mushroom gravy, seemed destined to cloy but turned out to be smooth, balanced, and savory. — Jiayang Fan, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2022 But before such moments can cloy, Arbery usefully complicates his case. — New York Times, 22 June 2022 That sweetness can cloy if it’s not suitably chilled and diluted, which is why almost everyone chooses to make it on the rocks. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2021 The museum’s sacredness to many, including me, can cloy a little. — Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2021 See All Example Sentences for cloy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloy
  1. saturate
  2. alleviate
  3. lighten
  4. gratify
Verb
  • Both Republican and Democratic leaders have supported the attempts to promote accurate news — and democratic values — in places that are saturated by foreign propaganda.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
  • However, the operation focused on saturating search results with a huge volume of content.
    — Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of saturate
Verb
  • The people and the government will do everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate their pain and help them in these most difficult moments.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Over time, building up your core strength can alleviate low-back pain, improve posture, improve sports performance, prevent injuries, and manage pelvic floor dysfunction.
    — Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • View 9 Images View gallery - 9 images Following the recent launch of the impressive, all-new X-Dome series, Durston has burrowed back in the workshop to tweak and lighten some of its already-svelte existing tent models.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2025
  • There’s a lot of levity here as well, to lighten the mood amid all the shootouts.
    — Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of lighten
Verb
  • She was especially gratified while working in Pisgah, the first national forest created from private lands purchased under the Weeks Act, which was signed in 1911, to protect watersheds and coördinate fire protection in the eastern United States.
    — Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The production of such a fun and poignant piece is gratifying.
    — David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of gratify

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Cite this Entry

“Cloy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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