as in sticky
tending to adhere to objects upon contact
walked barefoot through adhesive, clayey mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of adhesive
Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026
The romantic Netflix drama is set in London in the early 1800s, and while bandages existed, small adhesive bandages, like the one Araminta wore, didn't come around until later, a TikToker pointed out.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Feb. 2026
Daniel Modlin, Architectural Digest, 5 Mar. 2026
The cleaning pro explains that the oil softens the adhesive in sticky messes, and the baking soda provides some gentle scrubbing ability.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adhesive
Adjective
Michael Silva-Nash, president of Molly Maid, details how to easily remove any adhesive residue.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026
The romantic Netflix drama is set in London in the early 1800s, and while bandages existed, small adhesive bandages, like the one Araminta wore, didn't come around until later, a TikToker pointed out.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
Add additional rows of blocks, staggering them over the previous layer and using construction adhesive between rows.
—Daniel Modlin, Architectural Digest, 5 Mar. 2026
The cleaning pro explains that the oil softens the adhesive in sticky messes, and the baking soda provides some gentle scrubbing ability.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adhesive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adhesive
Adjective
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Sometimes that includes sticky or chewy candies.—
Sundeep Venkatesan,
The Conversation,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Inspectors found a dead rodent on an at-home sticky trap and noted that the back area smelled of rodent urine.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In an era when many kids her age are chasing likes and followers, one 12-year-old is winning the internet’s heart the old-fashioned way — with scissors, glue and her own handwriting.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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For years, Pahlavi had presented himself as a unifying figure, in keeping with a tradition of Iranian kingship as the glue that had held the fractious Persian Empire together.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Europe’s regulatory environment and environmental standards could also pose a disproportionate burden for local farmers adherent to the laws, farmers have said.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
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This particular kit is well-stocked, featuring classic first aid essentials like non-adherent pads, gauze, triple antibiotic ointment and BZK antiseptic wipes.—
Jessie Quinn,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adhesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adhesive. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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