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 There are few things more frustrating than waking in the middle of the night feeling hot, sticky and uncomfortable. — New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026 Painted Walls Walls get dirty easily, from fingerprints from children’s sticky hands to scuff marks from furniture. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026 Soap residue that’s left behind can create a sticky surface that attracts dust, dirt, and airborne oils, leading to some pretty grimy and hard-to-remove surfaces. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026 Holding onto sticky toys and storing them until next year only makes things worse, according to Piper. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 23 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
  • This adhesive base allows the material to stick directly onto host surfaces.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Convincing urban commuters to trust their safety to an adhesive joint requires more than just theories though.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 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 losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.
    — Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Ground surveys can provide more detailed information at a particular site, but covering an entire subway corridor that way would be difficult.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Houston could soar within it because Parton imbued it with a musical and sentimental purity that made room for the enormity of her expressiveness.
    — Ann Powers, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Ditsy floral quilt toppers add a sentimental anchor to bedrooms, while vintage pieces threaded throughout the rest of the property have been lovingly sourced by the experts at New York’s The Somerset House.
    — Dipal Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sentimental
Adjective
  • For the microwave, place the ears on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel or plastic wrap.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Ashcroft keeps the pace steady and the atmosphere churning, while Deming conjures a more generic but perfectly effective air of menace in damp shades of brown and teal.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of damp
Adjective
  • The war, and in particular Iran’s direct targeting of the Gulf, makes this approach a tough pill to swallow.
    — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The conversation shifted from tougher ordinances toward resource allocation and investing in third spaces, which are places outside of work, school or home.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • There was a celebration of what Daniels can do at any point, which is to cover up inconsistency and sloppy execution by others with his extraordinary talent.
    — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Chargers looked sloppy in their 41-17 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week, following an inspiring 27-7 road win over the Houston Texans, and now aim for a better on-field product in their final tuneup.
    — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 26 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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