Cloy

Cloy is a verb that describes something that becomes unpleasant because there is too much of it, often to the point of being sickly sweet or overly sentimental. It can refer to tastes, smells, emotions, or even ideas that have become excessive and therefore lose their appeal. For example, a dessert that is too sugary might cloy the palate, or a story filled with excessive melodrama could cloy the audience. The term implies a transition from pleasant to unpleasant due to an overabundance.

The word originates from the Old French word "clore," meaning "to close," suggesting a shutting off of enjoyment due to excess. Cloying experiences often leave one feeling overwhelmed or even a little nauseous, not from the absence of something desirable, but from its overwhelming presence. It's a specific kind of saturation where more of a good thing becomes detrimental. Think of the feeling after eating far too much rich chocolate; the initial pleasure gives way to a feeling of being unable to tolerate it any longer. This sense of being "closed off" to further enjoyment is central to the meaning of cloy.