tackier; tackiest
: somewhat sticky to the touch
tacky varnish
also
: characterized by tack : adhesive
tackier; tackiest
1
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
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Unconsidered Family Photos Family photos make a house feel like a home, but the way they are displayed (and the photos selected) can be the difference between a personalized and a tacky living room.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 18 Jan. 2026
Whether today or five decades ago, every era is marked by designs that are considered cool—and ones that feel tacky.
—Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
Amazon Prime’s The Girlfriend, about Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke engaging in a high-stakes tug-of-war between a mother and her son’s girlfriend, would have been an incredibly tacky old-timey Globes pick.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tacky
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
Most polishes leave behind a tacky residue that builds up over time and attracts dust.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Unconsidered Family Photos Family photos make a house feel like a home, but the way they are displayed (and the photos selected) can be the difference between a personalized and a tacky living room.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 18 Jan. 2026
Whether today or five decades ago, every era is marked by designs that are considered cool—and ones that feel tacky.
—Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
Amazon Prime’s The Girlfriend, about Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke engaging in a high-stakes tug-of-war between a mother and her son’s girlfriend, would have been an incredibly tacky old-timey Globes pick.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tacky
Cite this Entry
“Tacky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tacky. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tacky
2 of 2 adjective
tackier; tackiest
1
2
: marked by lack of style or good taste
a tacky outfit
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
