saccharine

adjective

sac·​cha·​rine ˈsa-k(ə-)rən  -kə-ˌrēn  -kə-ˌrīn 

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling that of sugar

saccharine taste

b

: yielding or containing sugar

saccharine vegetables

2

: overly or sickishly sweet

saccharine flavor

3

: ingratiatingly or affectedly agreeable or friendly

4

: overly sentimental : mawkish

a saccharine love story

saccharinity

ˌsa-kə-ˈri-nə-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• chocolate-box
• cloying
• corny
• drippy
• fruity
• gooey
• lovey-dovey
• maudlin
• mawkish
• mushy
• novelettish
• sappy
• schmaltzy
• sentimental
• sloppy
• slushy
• soppy
• soupy
• spoony
• spooney
• sticky
• sugarcoated
• sugary
• wet

Examples of saccharine in a Sentence

the movie was funny, but it had a saccharine ending in which everyone lives happily ever after

Recent Examples on the Web

But today, the saccharine days of corn sweeteners, like those produced by ADM, may be under siege. —Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 10 Jan. 2025

There’s a lot of whimsy, but the cuteness is intertwined with tough stuff, too difficult to be saccharine. —Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2024

What might smell delicious and inviting to one may seem saccharine or cloying to another; some folks prefer cleaner, brighter scents, while others reach for the musky, woodsy ones. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2024

Feldman’s last show had a perfect mix of characters with gray moral centers, enough twists and turns to keep you invested, and enough edge and humor that the heartfelt moments never felt overly saccharine. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin saccharum

First Known Use

circa 1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

saccharine

adjective

sac·​cha·​rine ˈsak-(ə-)rən 

-ə-ˌrēn,

-ə-ˌrīn

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling sugar or its characteristics

saccharine taste

b

: producing or containing sugar

saccharine fluids

2

: overly sweet

a saccharine smile

Medical Definition

saccharine

adjective

sac·​cha·​rine

ˈsak-(ə-)rən also -ə-ˌrēn or -ə-ˌrīn

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling that of sugar

saccharine taste

b

: yielding or containing sugar

a saccharine fluid

2

: overly or sickeningly sweet

saccharine flavor