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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Recent Examples of icky
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
As the icky Ick mutates from being a benign vine-like growth to a murderous alien entity, Hank might have a surprising, unexpected relationship with his student Grace (Malina Pauli Weissman) who just happens to be the daughter of Suvari’s Staci, his high school romance.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 July 2025
Instead of moving to the stomach, food gets trapped there, putrefying and giving off icky odors.
—Betsy Andrews, Saveur, 17 July 2025
Be warned, you will also be left feeling a little bit icky.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for icky
Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
As the icky Ick mutates from being a benign vine-like growth to a murderous alien entity, Hank might have a surprising, unexpected relationship with his student Grace (Malina Pauli Weissman) who just happens to be the daughter of Suvari’s Staci, his high school romance.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 July 2025
Instead of moving to the stomach, food gets trapped there, putrefying and giving off icky odors.
—Betsy Andrews, Saveur, 17 July 2025
Be warned, you will also be left feeling a little bit icky.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for icky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icky
Adjective
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Increase your fiber intake slowly and drink plenty of water to reduce unpleasant side effects like cramping and bloating.—
Courtney Southwick,
Health,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Any unpleasant government decision—such as the August order blocking voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, on the pretext of preventing scams and terrorist activity—tends to be perceived mostly with passive discontent and immediate adaptation with the search for alternative practical solutions.—
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Oysters inspired the researchers because of their remarkable ability to attach to rocks, bridge pilings, or even each other in the harsh underwater environment.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But the rules of the Long Walk are harsh and the stakes could not be higher.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
But that’s actually a bad thing for a couple reasons.—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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But worse than the poverty was the verbal and physical abuse from his father.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
One said bump is a particularly nasty, literal wig-snatching fight between Vida and Chi-Chi.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In a nutshell, people are easily irritated and inclined to get caught up in nasty power struggles because they’re entrenched in their own views.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This comes after Sunday's ugly loss to the Indianapolis Colts, a game that saw Hill catch just four passes for 40 yards.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
That’s a hard reality to stomach for Giants fans, who had to watch their offense go 4-for-16 on third downs, pile up just 157 passing yards and finish with six points in an ugly loss to the Commanders.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Known for excellent hazy IPAs as well as a stellar mixed fermentation/sour program, Hill Farmstead is worth the drive as some beer people consider a visit to their small but inviting tasting room almost a religious pilgrimage.—
Em Sauter,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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In addition to offering a survey of Khmer cuisine, with its strong flavors and sour ferments, the restaurant also pays homage to Un’s own family, particularly her mother, Kim Eng Mann, or Mama Kim, who can sometimes be spotted working in the kitchen.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This behavior is disgusting and they should be fired.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Sep. 2025
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And yet … those conversations are also entertainingly provocative, and they’re accompanied by some of the scariest and most disgusting scenes the series has delivered up to now.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Icky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icky. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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