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
Here’s where things could get really icky for consumers: Right now, the lion’s share of cost pressures aren’t even coming from tariff-sensitive goods.
—
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
The researchers noted ginger can help to settle the gastrointestinal tract and prevent stomach contractions that can trigger that icky nausea feeling.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2025
That said, those action-horror scenes are pleasurably icky.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025
Best for Mature Skin: Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer
Every shade of this stick has neutral undertones, so no need to worry about icky orange vibes—a victory for fair skin types.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for icky
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
The researchers noted ginger can help to settle the gastrointestinal tract and prevent stomach contractions that can trigger that icky nausea feeling.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2025
That said, those action-horror scenes are pleasurably icky.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025
Best for Mature Skin: Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer
Every shade of this stick has neutral undertones, so no need to worry about icky orange vibes—a victory for fair skin types.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for icky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icky
Adjective
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But the ever-reliable consumer is beginning to look shaky, courtesy of an unpleasant mix of a stagnating job market and sticky inflation.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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The power is accompanied by a loud, unpleasant exhaust note.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The triumphant narrative began to fray when exceedingly harsh lockdown measures could no longer contain the spread of the virus, and the staggering human cost in the name of protecting lives defied all logic.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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There are no easy fixes, so figuring out how to cushion the harsh impact will be the basis of negotiations with other parties in the Japanese legislature, the Diet.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
4 Oct. 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
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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
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The game didn’t start bad for the Giants.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And what about all that nasty mother stuff?—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
4 Oct. 2025
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The wedding ballads can wait; this nasty jam should still get the dancefloor packed in the meantime.—
Andrew Unterberger,
Billboard,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As if the Twins hadn’t experienced enough misery, September opened at home with an ugly, four-game sweep by the White Sox, who lost at least 100 games for the third year in a row.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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When the Motion Picture Association of America joined the consortium, in 2014, the fight grew uglier.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Rancidity is when the oils in nuts break down, causing the nut to smell sharp, sour, or like paint.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
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This raised the possibility of an extramarital relationship gone sour.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Evshine Memory Foam Slippers Listen, airplane floors are disgusting.—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
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Some of the abuse that came later, though, was disgusting.—
Kevin Coulson,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Icky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icky. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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