ticky-tacky

1 of 2

noun

ˌti-kē-ˈta-kē 

variants or less commonly ticky-tack

ˌti-kē-ˈtak 

plural ticky-tackies also ticky-tacks

: sleazy or shoddy material used especially in the construction of look-alike tract houses

also : something built of ticky-tacky

ticky-tacky

2 of 2

adjective

variants or less commonly ticky-tack

1

: of an uninspired or monotonous sameness

2

: tacky entry 2

3

: built of ticky-tacky

Synonyms

Adjective

• cheesy
• dowdy
• inelegant
• styleless
• tacky
• tasteless
• trashy
• unfashionable
• unstylish

Examples of ticky-tacky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Lisa Jones, Michol Murray and Pualani Spurlock-Welsh whistled the players for a total of 37 — many incredibly ticky-tacky — fouls. —Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

reduplication of tacky

First Known Use

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1