The Sweet and Sticky Problem of Cloyedness

Cloyedness is a noun that refers to something that is overly sweet or excessively sentimental, often to the point of being sickening or nauseating. It can also describe someone who is overly fond or indulgent, especially in a way that is considered excessive or insincere.

For example, if you find a dessert too sweet and cloying, it might be because it has too much sugar and lacks balance in its flavors. Similarly, if someone's behavior is cloying, it might be because they are being overly affectionate or ingratiating to the point of being annoying or manipulative.

The word "cloy" itself comes from the Old English word "clagan," which means "to bind" or "to tie." This sense of binding or tying in is thought to be the origin of the word's connotation of something being overly sweet or sticky, as well as its association with excessiveness or indulgence.