Abstract: An adhesive composition consisting essentially of (A) an alkyloxyalkyl 2-cyanoacrylate represented by the formula, ##STR1## wherein R is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or tetrahydrofurfuryl 2-cyanoacrylate, (B) 300 to 2,000 ppm. of water, (C) a radical-polymerization inhibitor, and (D) an anionic-polymerization inhibitor. This adhesive composition is useful as an instant-setting adhesive for metals, plastics, rubbers, glass, wood and the like, is excellent in instant-setting properties, bond strength and storage stability, and neither emits an irritating odor nor causes whitening of the adherend surface.