icky

adjective

ˈi-kē How to pronounce icky (audio)
Definition of ickynext
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses the novel has an icky sentimentality that makes my skin crawl

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 icky But our wedding, that like really just felt icky. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 18 June 2026 With this rare foray into horror, Demme directs with his customary warmth, wit, and humanity, but never shies away from the icky details. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 Everybody’s going to be a critic and troll and be icky on social media. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 5 June 2026 Jake’s latest column explores why the editor of seminal BBC sitcom The Office found an AI fix for a punchline problem that was too icky for the industry. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for icky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icky
  1. unpleasant
  2. harsh
  3. unpleasing
  4. bad
  5. nasty
  6. ugly
  7. sour
  8. horrible
Adjective
  • When considering thrift store furniture with upholstery, always check the cushions and padding for unpleasant odors.
    — Felicia Feaster, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Impact on regional planning Several Davidson town commissioners noted their own unpleasant history with the I-77 North toll lanes project.
    — DJ Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of unpleasant
Adjective
  • The European Commission has set an October deadline for progress in the negotiations, as France and Germany push for harsher measures.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Dehydrated skin is typically caused by dry air, harsh skin care, or the weather.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • The identity of the unpleasing Lindsay Marriott’s slayer has no pressing interest.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.
    — Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Definition of unpleasing
Adjective
  • Why is Indonesia experiencing its worst ever wildfire season?
    — TheWeek, TheWeek, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Interior designers and professional organizers say most kitchens hide usable square footage in plain sight, trapped behind clutter, bad habits and bulky gear that could be stored smarter or edited out entirely.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • Rather, the couple’s beloved dog, Lena, was up all night with a nasty case of diarrhea.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The latest special guest stars Este Haim as the mysterious Hallow's Eve, a villainess who wants to ruin Halloween forever by playing nasty tricks on kids out looking for candy.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of nasty
Adjective
  • That's on the heels of a 41-7 blowout at Northwestern that was ugly enough for Deion Sanders to dismiss a handful of players for conduct detrimental to the team days later.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In a world where (good, bad and ugly) answers and options are available, an employer needs a workforce that understands the business objectives and can weed through the noise to identify and execute the best solution.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • But with the concerns surrounding high-profile security breaches escalating, and public sentiment toward AI companies turning decidedly sour heading into the November midterm elections, calls for regulation are only likely to grow louder.
    — Ari Levy, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • And members of these new churches were mostly not the black-dressed, hypocritical, sour-faced, monocultural figures favored by popular narrative, but often included colorful figures who were sometimes surprisingly modern in their desires.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of sour
Adjective
  • At its worst, cognitive impairment can be a horrible, life-altering disease for patient and loved ones.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Doubs had a horrible debut in the league’s season opener last week against the Seattle Seahawks.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible

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Cite this Entry

“Icky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icky. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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