Cyanoacrylate adhesive compositions which employ calixarene compounds as additives give substantially reduced fixture and cure times on de-activating substrates such as wood. The calixarene compounds are preferably employed at levels of about 0.1-1% by weight of the composition. The calixarene compounds particularly useful in this invention may be represented by the formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkyl or substituted alkoxy; R.sup.2 is H or alkyl; and n=4, 6, or 8.The compositions are further characterized by a thickener component, which may suitably be selected from various polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate), methacrylate type copolymers, acrylic rubbers, polyvinyl acetate and poly(.alpha.-cyanoacrylate) or silicas treated with polydialkylsiloxanes or trialkylsilanes.