icky

adjective

ˈi-kē 

ickier; ickiest

: offensive to the senses or sensibilities : distasteful

had an icky smell

… put off by her icky triteness …

—Renata Adler

ickiness

ˈi-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of icky

• unpleasant
• harsh
• unpleasing
• bad
• nasty
• ugly
• sour
• horrible
• disgusting

Examples of icky in a Sentence

The trail was icky with mud.

the novel has an icky sentimentality that makes my skin crawl

Recent Examples on the Web

But the fact that CG wasn't an option back in 1982 undeniably makes the effects more memorable, as the stretching and snapping of latex gives the Thing's transformations an icky, otherworldly quality that computers simply can't match. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025

Her pipes are backed up with icky brown water. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025

But apart from Berger ending things with Carrie via Post-it, there’s nothing more icky than a boyfriend plagued by jealousy over his partner’s success. —Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2025

The five blades are cloaked in aloe soap for a close, soothing shave, and the handle comes with a magnetic mount that fends off icky rust and sticks to the shower wall for easy access. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps baby talk alteration of sticky

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above