as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact
don't overbeat the mashed potatoes, or they will be thick and gluey instead of light and fluffy
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Recent Examples of gluey
The lack of freshness in this gluey Scottish import is the biggest problem, but the flavor is also disappointingly dull.
—
Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2026
Skipping the Rinse Unrinsed rice retains excess surface starch, which leads to a gummy or gluey texture.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 27 Jan. 2026
Not dense or gluey, but not dry either.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
As starch builds, the potatoes become elastic, gluey, and dense.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
Are slightly gluey potatoes worth losing your rent-free room in Steven’s apartment?
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2026
Skipping the Rinse Unrinsed rice retains excess surface starch, which leads to a gummy or gluey texture.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 27 Jan. 2026
Not dense or gluey, but not dry either.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
As starch builds, the potatoes become elastic, gluey, and dense.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
Are slightly gluey potatoes worth losing your rent-free room in Steven’s apartment?
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gluey
Adjective
-
Dripping glitter, shimmering adhesive crystals, dramatic slashes of eyeliner and smudges of eyeshadow—there was a playful, shifting experimentalism here, to signal the young characters’ changeability and ingenuity.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
While traditional wallpaper is meticulously pasted to a wall, peel-and-stick attaches quickly with an adhesive backing.—
Shagun Khare,
Martha Stewart,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As the smell intensified, Lina crossed to the front door of her apartment, undid the lock, and yanked the sticky door open.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
On immediate application, the product comfortably clings to lips without feeling sticky or heavy.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gluey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gluey. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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