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

This brilliant, award-winning sticky bra holds up to a DD cup and is washable, sweatproof, and reusable up to 30 times. —Jennifer Chan, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025

The recipe itself was simple to make, though the pie dough wasn’t my favorite, as the thin, sticky dough shrunk down significantly in the pan. —Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Nov. 2025

There's nothing quite like a dive bar, known universally for cheap drinks and sticky floors. —Stephanie Stremplewski, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Nov. 2025

There’s something about that sticky, nutty sweetness with a hint of bourbon that just feels right for the holiday. —Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sticky

• sticky bun
• sticky fingers
• sticky note
• 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