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
Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
Old First Aid Supplies Technically, bandages don’t sport an expiration date, but over time, their adhesive parts can dry out and lose their stickiness.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
Asbestos was commonly used in building materials before the 1980s, particularly in linoleum backing and adhesives.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adhesive
Adjective
My only experience at that very young age was using organic mastic adhesive.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
Old First Aid Supplies Technically, bandages don’t sport an expiration date, but over time, their adhesive parts can dry out and lose their stickiness.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
Noun
Advertisement The stainless steel strip, called a cant rail assembly, between the windshield and the roof on both sides, is bound to the truck’s assembly with a structural adhesive, the NHTSA report said.
—TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
Asbestos was commonly used in building materials before the 1980s, particularly in linoleum backing and adhesives.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adhesive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adhesive
Adjective
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With their sticky bodies, hammerhead worms may get stuck to pet fur, but the worms will not irritate their skin, Morgan-Olvera added.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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The Eos Fragrance Free Body Lotion offers 24 hours of protection and doesn’t leave behind a sticky or greasy residue.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Only a year ago, Google released AI Overviews, a search feature that told users to eat rocks and use glue to stick cheese to pizza.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2025
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Just stack the shoeboxes on top of each other, and secure them with string or glue before creating a way to hang it in your closet.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
1 June 2025
Adjective
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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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For example, in the HIV disease area, patients on single tablet regimens are more adherent and persistent than those on multiple tablet treatments.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes,
8 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Adhesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adhesive. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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