sticky

adjective

ˈsti-kē How to pronounce sticky (audio)
Definition of stickynext
1
as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact both sides of the tape are sticky, making it a little tricky to work with

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2
as in humid
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture a warm sticky day when all we wanted to do was sit somewhere with air-conditioning

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3
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling an especially sticky conversation about money matters

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4
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way sticky love scenes that will bore cynics to death

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sticky If the dough is too sticky, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 From sticky tack to adhesive strips, there are plenty of tried-and-true renter-friendly ways to hang your art. — Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026 Most days still see hot and sticky temperatures, but evenings start to feel cooler and more temperate highs aren’t out of the question during the day either. — Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026 This column’s co-founder Christian Zilko and I appreciated the cult classic then as a sticky, spectacular, artistic… disaster. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sticky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky
  1. adhesive
  2. humid
  3. difficult
  4. sentimental
  5. damp
  6. tough
  7. sloppy
  8. sensitive
Adjective
  • Medications expire, blister packets get used and never replaced, and adhesive bandages lose their stickiness over time.
    — Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2026
  • If necessary, technicians will apply adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear axle differential at no cost.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of adhesive
Adjective
  • The heat will be accompanied by very humid air across the entire county, including at local beaches, where temperatures will reach the mid-80s.
    — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The break will be short-lived, as hotter and more humid weather is expected this weekend and will continue into early next week.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of humid
Adjective
  • The California Board of Pharmacy in 2025 reversed course on regulations that would have made the supplement more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • At Cannes, sources told Variety that A24, Netflix, Searchlight Pictures, Focus Features and Mubi were the leading contenders hoping to score his sentimental festival favorite.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Victoria and David Beckham are enjoying a sentimental, idyllic vacation in Portofino, Italy.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of sentimental
Adjective
  • Cover with a damp kitchen towel or loose-fitting lid and let stand at room temperature 24 hours.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Like hostas, ferns can also be used to cover up yellowing bulb foliage, but most grow best in damp soil and lightly shaded spots.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of damp
Adjective
  • With men on first and third and nobody out that inning, second baseman Jackson Holliday fielded a tough grounder and threw to second, but shortstop Gunnar Henderson dropped the ball for an error and everyone was safe.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • As for footwear sales in the region, the second quarter saw a slowdown of sales of high-heat product, alongside tougher comparatives and ongoing softness in end-of-cycle footwear product lines.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • On the previous drive, the Falcons’ starting offense went three-and-out — in sloppy, uninspiring fashion.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • First off, always practice perfect form with a lighter weight rather than compensate with sloppy form and a heavier weight.
    — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • Those could include remote sensors, autonomous underwater vehicles and other equipment that requires persistent, low-visibility power in remote and sensitive offshore and coastal environments, as well as power resiliency for forward military bases.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Musk’s officials infiltrated department after department, canceling contracts, firing employees, viewing sensitive data, and kneecapping programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as foreign aid.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sensitive

Phrases Containing sticky

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stickups
sticky
sticky wicket
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Cite this Entry

“Sticky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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