sticky

adjective

\ ˈsti-kē

stickier; stickiest

Definition of sticky

1a : adhesive

b(1) : viscous, gluey

(2) : coated with a sticky substance

2 : humid, muggy also : clammy

3 : tending to stick

4a : disagreeable, unpleasant came to a sticky end

b : awkward, stiff

c : difficult, problematic a sticky situation

5 : excessively sentimental : cloying

Other Words from sticky Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about sticky

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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

Bring the spook to your Halloween dessert table with these sweet (and sticky!) decorations. — Redbook Test Kitchen, Redbook, "Marshmallow Ghosts," 19 Sep. 2018 On the Fourth of July, temperatures in Boston climbed to a hot and sticky 88 degrees. — Cristela Guerra, BostonGlobe.com, "They exercised their right to celebrate the Fourth indoors (with air conditioning)," 4 July 2018 Propolis — the sticky substance derived from tree resin that bees use to coat the hive — has impressive antifungal and antibacterial effects on skin. — Cristina Mueller, Town & Country, "Beauty and the Bees," 6 Dec. 2012 Stir in the vinegar and sugar, reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the onions are soft and the syrup is sticky, 10 minutes. — Joe Yonan, The Seattle Times, "Vegetarian (or vegan) guests for Thanksgiving? Serve them this beauty," 13 Nov. 2018 The circumstances surrounding Blevins’ stance are sticky. — Megan Farokhmanesh, The Verge, "Ninja’s unwillingness to stream with women is a problem that points to a larger problem," 14 Aug. 2018 Lawless recommends using a quick-dry temporary touch-up spray that won't leave any sticky residue, such as L'Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up, to effectively conceal grays in seconds. — Redbook, "How to Look Like You Just Left the Salon," 27 Nov. 2018 When the air gets sticky and the temperature hits above 90 degrees, there’s nothing worse than having an underwire digging into your skin. Plus, a rigid bra is not exactly the best accompaniment to your collection of narrowly cut tank tops. — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, "Here Are the 15 Best Bralettes for Summer," 16 Aug. 2018 The scents themselves are sticky-sweet and fruit-inspired. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "What Kim Kardashian's New KKW Fragrance Kimoji Perfumes Really Smell Like," 17 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sticky.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.