as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
the novel has an icky sentimentality that makes my skin crawl
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of icky
But some may want to go the extra mile and cut off a mattress’s exposure to the outside world by way of a mattress encasement for the super icky things, like bed bugs and mildew.
—
Julia Forbes, Wired News, 23 June 2025
Everything about the way this plot device plays out is supremely icky.
—Aisha Harris, NPR, 21 June 2025
So, while the prospect of a jumping spider might be icky, the biomechanics behind it are certainly interesting.
—New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2025
If talking about age feels too icky, think of it more in terms of revivifying the party’s ideas and approach to meet the moment.
—Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for icky
Julia Forbes, Wired News, 23 June 2025
Everything about the way this plot device plays out is supremely icky.
—Aisha Harris, NPR, 21 June 2025
So, while the prospect of a jumping spider might be icky, the biomechanics behind it are certainly interesting.
—New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2025
If talking about age feels too icky, think of it more in terms of revivifying the party’s ideas and approach to meet the moment.
—Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for icky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icky
Adjective
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Once again, America confronts the unpleasant truth that the Constitution does not expressly guarantee a right to vote — and neither will the Supreme Court.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The options are unpleasant tenements on one side and unaffordable houses on the other.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The former Calle 13 member impresses her sensitivity to this piece, originally written by Orlando Brito and popularized in 1975 by the great Héctor Lavoe, giving it new life with her powerful, dramatic voice, accompanied by street guitars and harsh, aggressive chords that captivate the listener.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
15 Aug. 2025
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While the comparison of slave babies being taken from their mommas, and immigrant children being separated from their parents might seem a bit harsh to some, the pain is the same.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
-
His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Adjective
-
Not bad for a company built on the back of a $40 plastic-cased watch!—
Oren Hartov,
Robb Report,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Drinking rates fell across every demographic and young people were most likely to believe drinking is bad for your health.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Whereas the Star Wars sequels woefully misused the actor's talents, this movie puts them center stage, playing one of the teen hoodlums who join forces with their victim to fight off nasty, otherworldly invaders.—
Chris Snellgrove,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Things could be reversed if prompt actions are taken to get vaccination rates back up again before the different nasty microbes can spread too far in the U.S. population.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The Navy must address the ugly fact that, despite all the security America can provide, a diverse array of enemies, rivals and criminals can shut the Panama Canal down at virtually any time.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
In the ugliest defeat of a season belatedly compiling them, the New York Mets blew an early 6-0 lead Wednesday to fall to the Atlanta Braves 11-6.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But her special day turns sour when family disagreements about her future take center stage.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
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The relationship turned sour when Morgan, alongside Priscilla Presley, accused Kruse and Fialko of coercion and elder abuse, among other things, the lawsuit said.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Kruse and her co-conspirators are now on their fourth different set of lawyers in this dispute, and this is a disgusting publicity stunt by new counsel, as evidenced by the fact that the complaint and press release were sent to the press before the complaint was served.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
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The series sets the various human and humanoid segments of its cast on a direct course with the distinctly inhuman alien flora and fauna on the ship – there are some inventive little monsters aboard, disgusting and harrowing in their own special ways – to great effect.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Icky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icky. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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