# sugary

/ˈʃʊɡɝi/ (US) · /ʃˈʊɡəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sugary
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

tasting like sugar or containing a lot of it. You can also use it to describe something that is too sweet or fake, like a movie that is too emotional.

For teachers: containing, consisting of, or resembling sugar in taste or appearance. Often carries a pejorative connotation when describing artistic works or behavior that is excessively sentimental.

## Examples

- I try to avoid sugary drinks like soda.
- The cereal was far too sugary for my taste, leaving a sticky residue on the spoon.
- Critics dismissed the film's sugary ending as an unearned resolution that ignored the gritty realism established in the first two acts.

## Usage notes

- Often used figuratively to describe speech or media that feels insincere or overly sentimental.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.