tacky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈta-kē 

tackier; tackiest

: somewhat sticky to the touch

tacky varnish

also : characterized by tack : adhesive

tacky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

tackier; tackiest

1

: not having or exhibiting good taste: such as

a

: marked by cheap showiness : gaudy

a tacky publicity stunt

a tacky outfit

b

: marked by lack of style : dowdy

2

a

: characterized by lack of good breeding

… couldn't run around downtown … in a bikini, which was tacky …

—Cyra McFadden

b

: shabby, seedy

… a tacky town whose citrus groves were blighted by smoke …

—Bryce Nelson

Synonyms of tacky

Adjective (1)

• adhesive
• sticky

Adjective (2)

• inappropriate
• cheesy
• unsuitable
• trashy
• tasteless
• incorrect
• unfashionable
• wrong
• dowdy
• inelegant
• cheap

Examples of tacky in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

don't touch the walls while the fresh paint is still tacky

Adjective (2)

it was tacky to wear sneakers to the wedding

tacky plastic flowers

a tacky old couch that needed new upholstery

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While rooting for anyone to lose a job can be tacky, it's been part of the DNA of sports fans forever — and on Monday, some Eagles fans were hoping offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo would join the list of hit-the-road coaches after one of the worst collapses in franchise history. —CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025

The all-inclusive vacation is easy to mock as tacky—as in the TikTok meme satirizing British tour company Jet2holidays. —Adam Erace, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2025

This ratio allows the potatoes to break down into lumpless, creamy submission with very little effort, and with a lower risk of overworking them into a tacky paste. —Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Nov. 2025

Overusing Furniture Polish Furniture polish can leave behind a tacky residue that builds up over time and actually attracts dust. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

tack entry 2

Adjective (2)

tacky a low-class person

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1788, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing tacky

• ticky-tacky

Rhymes for tacky

• bacchae
• jacky
• lackey
• wacky

Kids Definition

tacky

1 of 2 adjective

ˈtak-ē 

tackier; tackiest

: somewhat sticky to the touch

tacky varnish

tacky

2 of 2 adjective

tackier; tackiest

1

: shabby sense 2b, seedy

2

: marked by lack of style or good taste

a tacky outfit