Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day — "Cloying" (January 15, 2026)
Episode Overview
In this episode, the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is “cloying.” Host Peter Sokolowski introduces listeners to the meaning, etymology, and usage of this adjective, emphasizing its disapproving tone when something is excessively sweet, pleasant, or sentimental. The episode not only explains the contemporary use of “cloying,” but also provides rich historical context and a memorable literary example.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Definition and Pronunciation
- Word: Cloying
- Pronunciation & Spelling: "Spelled C-L-O-Y-I-N-G." (00:08)
- Current Meaning:
"Cloying is an adjective. It's used disapprovingly to describe something that is too sweet, pleasant, or sentimental." (00:11)
2. Example Sentence: Literary Usage
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Source: The New Yorker, Margaret Talbot
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Quote:
"Images of her came to me often, as did snatches of songs in her repertoire, which she sang to me as lullabies. What I couldn't quite summon, despite what I thought of as my keen smell memory, was her fragrance. As a kid, I had never liked it. The loggia was heavy, spicy and floral. When my mother would lean over me to comb my hair, the cloying rose and carnation combined with her tugging on my scalp always threatened to give me a headache. Still, I missed that fragrance." (00:22)
- Insight: The word vividly describes a scent so overwhelming and sweet it becomes unpleasant, illustrating the “too much of a good thing” aspect at the heart of “cloying.”
3. Etymology and Historical Development
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Origins:
"Now the history of the word cloying isn't sweet, it's tough as nails. Cloying comes from the verb cloy, which in Middle English meant to hinder or seriously injure. Its source is an Anglo French word meaning to prick a horse with a nail in shoeing." (00:54) -
Farrier Connection:
"The English word cloi, too, carried this farrier-y meaning—a farrier being a person who shoes horses—in the early 16th century. But it also had a general sense relating to clogging and stuffing, and in particular, to overloading with especially sweet or rich food." (01:08) -
Extension of Meaning:
"From there quickly arose meanings of cloy, still in use today: to supply with an unwanted or distasteful excess, usually of something originally pleasing, and to be or become insipid or distasteful, usually through an excess of an originally pleasurable quality, such as sweetness." (01:21) -
Adjective Form:
"The adjective cloying, which describes things that are too sweet, pleasant, or sentimental, was doing the job it does today by the end of the 16th century." (01:34)
4. Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- "The history of the word cloying isn't sweet, it's tough as nails." (00:54) — Host Peter Sokolowski, highlighting the word’s unexpectedly gritty origins.
- Describing the evolution:
"To supply with an unwanted or distasteful excess, usually of something originally pleasing." (01:23) - Literary imagery:
"The cloying rose and carnation combined with her tugging on my scalp always threatened to give me a headache." (00:36)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00–00:11: Introduction of the word, pronunciation & basic definition
- 00:22–00:47: Example sentence from The New Yorker; context and feeling of "cloying"
- 00:54–01:34: Etymology, farrier origin, historical usage, and semantic development
- 01:34–end: Wrap-up and encouragement to visit merriam-webster.com
Tone and Language
Peter Sokolowski maintains an informative and engaging tone, skillfully blending literary citation, historical context, and vivid word imagery. His explanations are clear and accessible, helping listeners both understand and remember the word “cloying.”
Listen for:
- A memorable metaphor: The etymological path from “pricking a horse with a nail” to “overloading the senses.”
- Literary vividness: Margaret Talbot’s lush description of a fragrance that’s more oppressive than pleasing.
- Practical tip: The adjective “cloying” is best used for things that cross a threshold from charming or sweet to excessive and off-putting.