adhesive 1 of 2

as in sticky
tending to adhere to objects upon contact walked barefoot through adhesive, clayey mud

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adhesive

2 of 2

noun

as in glue
a substance used to stick things together prefers postage stamps coated with adhesive so that she doesn't have to do any licking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of adhesive
Adjective
Thanks to advances in the category—stronger adhesive, sleeker designs, more varied sizing—fake nails have never looked better and lasted longer. Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 Marelli's adhesive wastewater recovery process won the award for Sustainable Process. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
Try Some Moleskin Moleskin is a thin, cotton material with adhesive on one side. Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2025 In the event of a sudden rotational impact, however, the adhesive instantaneously releases, allowing the panels to roll across the bearings and pop loose. New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adhesive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adhesive
Adjective
  • Its sheer pink hue and non-sticky texture check all my boxes.
    Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 3 Oct. 2025
  • That commitment was further emphasized by the addition of Reed, who replaced another sticky corner in Carlton Davis III.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Excess water can wear down the glue that holds the bristles and handle together.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Sticky traps or glue boards are also effective for tracking and reducing spider populations, added the extension service.
    Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Here, then, are each of Guest’s features, ranked from least to most adherent to the laws of Guestiness.
    Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
  • At my organization, ICL, 75% of clients served by IMT have become stably housed by our teams and 67% are adherent with medication, with an additional 14% agreeing to try medication.
    Jody Rudin, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Adhesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adhesive. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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