cloy v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (cloying) disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment: a romantic, rather cloying story; a curious bittersweetness that cloyed her senses | [intrans.] the first long sip gives a malty taste that never cloys. cloy*ing*ly adv. late Middle English: shortening of obsolete accloy 'stop up, choke', from Old French encloyer 'drive a nail into', from medieval Latin inclavare, from clavus 'a nail'.