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 the fact that CG wasn't an option back in 1982 undeniably makes the effects more memorable, as the stretching and snapping of latex gives the Thing's transformations an icky, otherworldly quality that computers simply can't match.
—
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Her pipes are backed up with icky brown water.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
But apart from Berger ending things with Carrie via Post-it, there’s nothing more icky than a boyfriend plagued by jealousy over his partner’s success.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2025
The five blades are cloaked in aloe soap for a close, soothing shave, and the handle comes with a magnetic mount that fends off icky rust and sticks to the shower wall for easy access.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for icky
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Her pipes are backed up with icky brown water.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
But apart from Berger ending things with Carrie via Post-it, there’s nothing more icky than a boyfriend plagued by jealousy over his partner’s success.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2025
The five blades are cloaked in aloe soap for a close, soothing shave, and the handle comes with a magnetic mount that fends off icky rust and sticks to the shower wall for easy access.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for icky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icky
Adjective
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When Luna conjoins intense Pluto, our feelings about such shifts might burst out in unpleasant ways!—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
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Though a person infected with the virus may experience unpleasant symptoms, others may be asymptomatic and show no symptoms at all.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Prosecutors say the defendant failed to take into account his girlfriend’s inexperience in mountain climbing as well as the harsh winter conditions.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Bathroom Fixtures There are no harsh or abrasive chemicals involved in steam cleaning bathroom fixtures.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
-
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
Adjective
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Investigators are buried in leads The influx of tips generated in the case – further fueled by the release this week of footage captured by Guthrie’s doorbell camera – is both good and bad for law enforcement.—
Elizabeth Hartfield,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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But the lack of bigger tax cuts does not inherently make the grocery tax repeal bad.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Failing to check abatement expiration dates creates nasty surprises when incentives end.—
Allison Palmer
Updated February 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
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The club’s record £125million signing suffered a nasty leg break away to Spurs in December.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In more ways than one, this war has mutated into an ugly numbers game.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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The artist has described herself as a black hole where people can dump their feelings, but her music moves beyond ugly emotions toward catharsis.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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However, raw cranberries have a very tart, sour flavor that some people may not enjoy.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
19 Feb. 2026
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Once fermentation is complete, the kombucha’s flavor is a punchy combination of sweet and sour, with plenty of vinegar, amino acids and B vitamins, in addition to the probiotics.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And for the next year its law enforcement members were hailed as heroes for their efforts that prevented a horrible situation from becoming even worse.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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There’s nary a crease to be seen in Bina Daigeler’s costumes, all covetable, unapproachable and tailored to the gods; Matthew Herbert’s score may be among the lushest ever slathered over such horrible goings-on.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Icky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icky. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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