STICK Synonyms: 219 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'stick' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stick are adhere , cleave , cling , and cohere . While all these words mean "to become closely attached," stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. // couldn't get the label to stick

Q: When would 'adhere' be a good substitute for 'stick'?

While in some cases nearly identical to stick , adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together. // antibodies adhering to a virus

Q: When is 'cleave' a more appropriate choice than 'stick'?

While the synonyms cleave and stick are close in meaning, cleave stresses strength of attachment. // the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Q: In what contexts can 'cling' take the place of 'stick'?

The meanings of cling and stick largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils. // clinging to a capsized boat

Q: When might 'cohere' be a better fit than 'stick'?

In some situations, the words cohere and stick are roughly equivalent. However, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass. // eggs will make the mixture cohere

stick 1 of 2

verb

Definition of stick

as in to adhere

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion those magnets are strong enough to stick to the refrigerator without any problems

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to put

to arrange something in a certain spot or position you can stick that box in the corner until I figure out where to put everything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stab

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to squeeze

to rob by the use of trickery or threats she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site

Synonyms & Similar Words

stick

2 of 2

noun

as in finger

Related Words

as in clam

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in beam

Related Words

as in stab

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb stick contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stick are adhere, cleave, cling, and cohere. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

When would adhere be a good substitute for stick?

While in some cases nearly identical to stick, adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

When is cleave a more appropriate choice than stick?

While the synonyms cleave and stick are close in meaning, cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

In what contexts can cling take the place of stick?

The meanings of cling and stick largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When might cohere be a better fit than stick?

In some situations, the words cohere and stick are roughly equivalent. However, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

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 stick

Verb

For years, they have been stuck at sea with their leader, the great warrior king Odysseus (Matt Damon), trying to find a route home to Ithaca; hunger and desperation have spurred his fiery second-in-command, Eurylochus (Himesh Patel), toward mutiny. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 But a viral video of a man being stuck inside a porta-potty might take the cake. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026

Noun

My love for this foundation stick runs deep—but shoppers share my sentiments. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 10 July 2026 It’s served in a colorful goblet with a stick of fragrant palo santo, which your server will light to perfume the drink before your first sip. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stick

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stick

Verb

Roll each dough ball in powdered sugar, rolling between your palms so that sugar adheres.

— Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
These changes were guided by a legal doctrine known as cy pres, which requires that any changes to a foundation’s mission have to adhere as closely as possible to the donor’s original intent.

— Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

Definition of adhere

Verb

But prices at the pump began to climb again after Iran resumed attacks on ships trying to exit the strait and after the US retaliated and put a blockade on Iranian ports.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Having said his piece, Armand puts a pen and paper in Louis’s headless hand.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026

Definition of put

Verb

DaSilva is then seen approaching a man sitting on an electrical box and is captured making stabbing motions at the man, who ran away and was later found with fatal stab wounds, police say.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Jordan Harbst, 25, was ambushed and stabbed to death early July 6 while riding a scooter home along the Greenbelt, prosecutors said.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026

Definition of stab

Verb

Barbara Rainey, a Cherry resident of 76 years, said a school bus hit her cousin’s car while trying to squeeze between vehicles parked on either side.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
Tournament football isn’t generally conducive to pressing, with so many matches squeezed into such a short window, and without the cohesion that comes from club sides training together for months.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of squeeze

Noun

In the elevator in Sonya’s building, Helen finger-combed her hair, tucking the loose wisps behind her ears.

— Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
But signs of El Niño are starting to show up in other global-scale atmospheric wind and weather patterns, including the Walker Circulation, according to Lowry, which lends more credence to the idea that El Niño has its finger on the scales.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Definition of finger

Noun

For more than two decades, the duo hauled in more than 4 pounds of clams each morning from the lagoon in the Po River Delta — upending the notion that women were unsuited for such a rigorous job.

— Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Ragusa is a spiral sea snail, closer to a small murex than a clam, usually simmered in tomato with garlic and chili like most small Adriatic mollusks.

— Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of clam

Noun

All have the particular quirks – wooden beams or quaint tiny windows – of a centuries-old property.

— Jonathan Samuels, TheWeek, 17 July 2026
In 2023, after a park visitor noticed a broken Fury 325 support beam, the coaster closed for six weeks that summer.

— Catherine Muccigrosso July 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 July 2026

Definition of beam

Noun

Lately, the Creative Lab seems to have a new assignment, to make Google’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence look as friendly as possible.

— Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026
Following the club’s relegation to the Championship for the first time since 2011, Kretinsky urgently needed to convince club captain Jarrod Bowen to lead their promotion push.

— Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of push

Browse Nearby Words

stews

stick

stick around

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“Stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of stick

verb

noun

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on stick

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