sticky

adjective

ˈsti-kē 

stickier; stickiest

1

a

: adhesive

a sticky material

b(1)

: viscous, gluey

sticky syrup

(2)

: coated with a sticky substance

sticky little fingers

… it must have been just repainted, it looked so bright and sticky …

—Lewis Carroll

2

: humid, muggy

also : clammy

3

: tending to stick

4

a

: disagreeable, unpleasant

came to a sticky end

b

: awkward, stiff

c

: difficult, problematic

a sticky situation

5

: excessively sentimental : cloying

stickily

ˈsti-kə-lē 

adverb

stickiness

ˈsti-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of sticky

• adhesive

Examples of sticky in a Sentence

The sap is very sticky.

There is a sticky substance on the table.

The paint was still sticky.

The weather was hot and sticky.

Recent Examples on the Web

Workers expecting sticky inflation will ask for steeper pay raises to get ahead of any sticker shock. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

The spike in core CPI shows price pressures are broadening into other categories beyond energy, experts noted, a sign inflation remains sticky. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

The menu is rich and in many cases old-school English — fans of steak and kidney pies and guinea fowl and of course the desserts, such as sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble are unlikely to be disappointed. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

In other words, even when people and businesses think ahead and act in their own interests, sticky prices can keep the economy stuck in a slump. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sticky

• sticky bun
• sticky fingers
• sticky note
• sticky rice
• sticky-sweet
• sticky tape
• sticky wicket

Rhymes for sticky

• dickie
• dicky
• hickey
• micky
• nicky
• picky
• quickie
• rickey
• tricky
• colicky

Kids Definition

sticky

adjective

ˈstik-ē 

stickier; stickiest

1

a

: adhesive entry 1, gluey

sticky syrup

b

: coated with a sticky substance

the tabletop was sticky

2

: muggy, humid

a hot sticky day

3

: tending to stick

sticky windows

stickily

ˈstik-ə-lē 

adverb

stickiness

ˈstik-ē-nəs 

noun