STICK Synonyms: 219 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'stick' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stick are adhere , cleave , cling , and cohere . While all these words mean "to become closely attached," stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. // couldn't get the label to stick

Q: When would 'adhere' be a good substitute for 'stick'?

While in some cases nearly identical to stick , adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together. // antibodies adhering to a virus

Q: When is 'cleave' a more appropriate choice than 'stick'?

While the synonyms cleave and stick are close in meaning, cleave stresses strength of attachment. // the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Q: In what contexts can 'cling' take the place of 'stick'?

The meanings of cling and stick largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils. // clinging to a capsized boat

Q: When might 'cohere' be a better fit than 'stick'?

In some situations, the words cohere and stick are roughly equivalent. However, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass. // eggs will make the mixture cohere

stick 1 of 2

verb

Definition of stick

as in to adhere

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion those magnets are strong enough to stick to the refrigerator without any problems

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to put

to arrange something in a certain spot or position you can stick that box in the corner until I figure out where to put everything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stab

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to squeeze

to rob by the use of trickery or threats she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site

Synonyms & Similar Words

stick

2 of 2

noun

as in finger

Related Words

as in clam

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Dissimilar Words

as in beam

Related Words

as in stab

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb stick contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stick are adhere, cleave, cling, and cohere. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

When would adhere be a good substitute for stick?

While in some cases nearly identical to stick, adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

When is cleave a more appropriate choice than stick?

While the synonyms cleave and stick are close in meaning, cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

In what contexts can cling take the place of stick?

The meanings of cling and stick largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When might cohere be a better fit than stick?

In some situations, the words cohere and stick are roughly equivalent. However, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

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 stick

Verb

Selfie sticks dangle off every bridge, and tour groups shuffle behind guides waving flags. — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026 One episode takes place with the characters all calling into a Zoom while stuck in traffic to debate an AI algorithm’s decision to assign an organ to one donor over the other. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

Below, take a peek at the best still-available Dyson Prime Day deals, ranging from cordless stick vacuums to purifying tower fans. — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 This aluminum-free stick goes beyond odor protection with a transfer-resistant formula to fend off stink. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stick

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stick

Verb

McCarthy and his co-screenwriters, Noé Debré and Thomas Bidegain, have adhered closely to the actual transcripts of the conference in their efforts to recreate it.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Scatter about half of panko mixture over, pressing in with your hands to adhere.

— Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of adhere

Verb

The joy of being in DTLA is proximity to transit, putting Santa Monica, Pasadena, and everywhere in between within easy reach without necessarily needing Ubers or a rental car.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Choudri also made headlines earlier this year after the authority put him on leave after police arrested him at his Folsom home following a fight between his daughter and fiancée.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of put

Verb

The North Texas woman arrested Tuesday after allegedly stabbing and injuring her husband and two young children at their Northlake home had been struggling with postpartum depression, according to court documents.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
Tate and four others were stabbed and shot during the attacks.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of stab

Verb

But in recent years, the shows have become money losers and the network TV business — faced with a decline in viewers that is squeezing profits — are cutting them loose.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
However, rising costs for housing, food, fuel and insurance coupled with cooling employment rends and the lowest consumer sentiment in a decade is squeezing discretionary spending.

— Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of squeeze

Noun

Its latest annual Gboard experiment flips this dynamic on its head with moving keys that eventually roll into position right under your finger.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026
But instead of going right to work, Ortiz Jara had an appointment to be finger-printed at the Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Pomona for his visa application.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of finger

Noun

Blue crabs and crawfish are sourced from Louisiana, while shellfish such as oysters, Manila clams and cherrystone clams arrive from waters stretching from the East Coast to Asia.

— Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Unlike the traditional baked dish of littlenecks stuffed with bacon and breadcrumbs, Jimmy’s version comes as a bowl of thumbnail-sized Manila clams tossed with guanciale, compound butter and breadcrumbs.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of clam

Noun

During radiotherapy, small tattoos can help clinicians repeatedly align radiation beams with the correct treatment area.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
The rest of their apartment complex was littered with roof shingles and broken beams from a wooden fence.

— Emilie Megnien, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of beam

Browse Nearby Words

stews

stick

stick around

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“Stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of stick

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Synonyms of stick

verb

noun

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Phrases Containing stick

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on stick

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