syrupy

/ˈsɪrəpi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɪrəpi/ (ame, ipa)

syrupy — adjective

  • syrupypositive
  • more syrupycomparative
  • most syrupysuperlative

1. thick, heavy, and very sweet, in the way that syrup is — used to describe liquid

1.形容詞B2
釋義

thick, heavy, and very sweet, in the way that syrup is — used to describe liquids and semi-liquid foods

例句

Daichi poured the syrupy maple topping over his stack of pancakes.

attributive: syrupy + food noun

The cough medicine had a dark, syrupy texture that clung to the spoon.

同義詞
  • viscous

    more technical and neutral — describes thickness without sweetness

  • gooey

    more informal; suggests soft, sticky texture but not necessarily sweet

  • sticky

    broader term; describes anything that adheres to surfaces

反義詞
  • watery

    opposite in consistency — thin and runny

  • thin

    opposite in texture — flows easily

用法筆記

Describes liquids or semi-liquids (sauces, syrups, medicines, fruit juices). Not used for solid foods.

常見錯誤

❌The flood left a syrupy layer of mud on the floor.
✅The flood left a thick layer of mud on the floor.
💡syrupy implies sweetness as well as thickness; use 'thick' or 'viscous' for things that are not sweet.

2. describes speech, writing, music, or behaviour that shows so much emotion or aff

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes speech, writing, music, or behaviour that shows so much emotion or affection that it feels fake and irritating rather than genuinely moving

例句

Putri switched off the film when the syrupy love scene began.

attributive: syrupy + art/performance noun

Salma couldn't finish the novel — the dialogue was syrupy and unconvincing.

同義詞
  • sentimental

    broader and can be neutral or positive; syrupy is always negative

  • cloying

    very close in meaning; slightly more formal

  • saccharine

    formal, literary synonym — directly compares excessive sweetness to sugar

  • cheesy

    more informal; suggests low-quality sentimentality, often in entertainment

反義詞
  • genuine

    opposite in sincerity — real and heartfelt

  • understated

    opposite in emotional intensity — restrained and subtle

用法筆記

Always negative — the speaker finds the emotion excessive and insincere. Common in reviews of films, books, music, and speeches. Distinguish from sense 1 (THICK AND SWEET), which describes physical taste and texture.

常見錯誤

❌The wedding was beautiful and syrupy — everyone cried.
✅The wedding was beautiful and moving
💡everyone cried.' — syrupy is negative; use 'moving' or 'touching' for genuine, heartfelt emotion.