Meaning & use
too viscous
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Meaning
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
having a thick, sticky consistency that flows too slowly
Grammar: Used after 'be' or before a noun: 'The oil is too viscous.' It is not usually used with 'very' because 'too' already shows excess.
Patterns
- be too viscous
- become too viscous
- too viscous for something
The syrup became too viscous to pour easily.
If the paint is too viscous, add a little water to thin it.
Common combinations
- too viscous to pour
- The mixture was too viscous to pour from the bottle.
- become too viscous
- As it cooled, the liquid became too viscous to stir.
- too viscous for the pump
- This oil is too viscous for the pump to handle.
Synonyms and how they differ
- thick
- A general word for liquids that do not flow easily; 'viscous' is the technical term used in science.
- syrupy
- Describes a liquid like syrup; it is more descriptive and less precise than 'viscous'.
Opposites
Word family
- viscosity noun
- The measure of how thick a liquid is.
- viscously adverb
- In a thick, sticky way; rarely used.
Commonly confused: too viscous or vicious?
too viscous vs vicious
Vicious means violent or cruel; viscous means thick and sticky. They sound similar but have very different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'too viscous' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Too viscous' means too thick to flow, so 'to pour' fits. The other options describe taste or health, which are not related to viscosity.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “too viscous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.