saccharine

adjective

sac·​cha·​rine ˈsa-k(ə-)rən How to pronounce saccharine (audio)
-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 noun

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 Lewis brought a nervy energy that pushed against the saccharine instincts of network sitcoms. Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Variety’s Courtney Howard complimented the film, saying Gunn’s story isn’t too saccharine. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024 Integration is the lesser appreciated cousin of forgiveness; more sophisticated than acceptance, less saccharine than gratitude. Jessica Knoll, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2023 But even saccharine sequences, such as a gathering at Francis’s parents’ home, are elevated by Gordon’s refined, understated, and unassuming grandeur. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 Mocking these losers could endanger our access to saccharine wines. Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 The dough is stretched into a snaking log, clipped into small pieces, rolled into spherical perfection, boiled in water and then plunged into a steaming, saccharine soup. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 The story centered on two women rediscovering their strength and sparkle by mending their fractured friendship finds the correct balance of cynical and saccharine without upsetting the scale. Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023 The saccharine pop bop has since peaked at No. 22 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, with greater gains expected following the film’s box office-topping opening weekend and the pair’s viral Saturday Night Live performance. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'saccharine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin saccharum

First Known Use

circa 1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of saccharine was circa 1674

Dictionary Entries Near saccharine

Cite this Entry

“Saccharine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saccharine. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

saccharine

adjective
sac·​cha·​rine ˈsak-(ə-)rən How to pronounce saccharine (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on saccharine

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