What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cloying
Example
The cloying scent of the flowers made me feel nauseous. [cloying: adjective]
Example
Her cloying behavior towards her boss was obvious to everyone in the office. [cloying: gerund or present participle]
mawkish
Example
The movie was so mawkish that I couldn't help but roll my eyes. [mawkish: adjective]
Example
She wrote a mawkish love letter that made him cringe. [mawkish: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mawkish is less common than cloying in everyday language, but both words are used in formal and informal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cloying and mawkish?
Both cloying and mawkish are considered formal words and are not commonly used in casual conversation. However, cloying is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels than mawkish.
