tacky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

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 tackyCyra McFadden
b
: shabby, seedy
a tacky town whose citrus groves were blighted by smokeBryce Nelson

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
What could possibly go wrong on such a slippery slope, where nothing remains sacred, tradition is going extinct and everything left is tacky and transactional? Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 June 2025 With drinks in hand and dogs underfoot, guests can wander through the studios, which remain open for the occasion, canvases still tacky with wet paint. Alessandra Schade, Vogue, 7 June 2025 The brand launched a fireworks-display-worth of flavors in cans with Technicolor illustrations that look like a 1980s suburban mall fever dream, evoking tacky Gen X nostalgia brands like LA Gear, Ocean Pacific and Camp Beverly Hills. Liza Weisstuch, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025 While other personal lubricants of this nature get sticky or tacky fairly quickly, Lelo's formula simply doesn’t. Amanda Chatel, Wired News, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tacky

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tacky was in 1788

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tacky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tacky. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

tacky

1 of 2 adjective
tackier; tackiest
: somewhat sticky to the touch
tacky varnish

tacky

2 of 2 adjective
tackier; tackiest
1
2
: marked by lack of style or good taste
a tacky outfit

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