What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
treacly
Example
The movie was so treacly that it made me feel nauseous. [treacly: adjective]
Example
The author's writing style was treacly and sentimental, which turned off some readers. [treacly: adverb]
cloying
Example
The dessert was cloying and too sweet for my taste. [cloying: adjective]
Example
Her cloying behavior towards her boss made everyone uncomfortable. [cloying: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cloying is more commonly used than treacly in everyday language. Cloying is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while treacly is less common and refers specifically to sentimental or emotional content.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between treacly and cloying?
Both treacly and cloying are informal words that are best used in casual conversation or writing. However, cloying may be slightly more formal due to its wider range of applications.
