stick 1 of 2

verb

Definition of sticknext
1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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
4
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

1
as in finger

Related Words
2
as in clam

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
3
as in beam

Related Words
4
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
On the eve of a new season, the NHL has a new way for fans to play hockey — in their living rooms, no ice or stick required. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025 However, their most significant benefit is eliminating stick drift, which still haunts other premium gaming handhelds like the Nintendo Switch 2. —Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
With them, the ball often stuck. —Josh Robbins, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 Marketers say vast majority of agentic AI projects are stuck in the pilot phase. —John Kell, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stick
  1. adhere
  2. put
  3. stab
  4. squeeze
  5. finger
  6. clam
  7. beam
  8. push
Verb
  • But the kitchen, overseen by Curtola along with the chef de cuisine Ben Zook, seems more interested in conjuring an authenticity of atmosphere than in adhering strictly to traditional recipes or preparations.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
  • But the vote by the CDC’s advisory committee carries additional implications for vaccine access since some states adhere closely to its recommendations.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of adhere
Verb
  • Let the filter dry completely before putting it back and using the blow dryer again.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Notre Dame had a 79-yard TD drive in the third quarter and a 52-yarder in the fourth to put the game away.
    — Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 5 Oct. 2025
Definition of put
Verb
  • The admission came the day after two Jewish worshipers were killed and three others seriously injured in a car ramming and stabbing attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Manchester suburb of Crumpsall on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
    — Peter Wilkinson, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • One of the victims had been stabbed several times in the head and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
Definition of stab
Verb
  • These 515 V3s, along with other New Balance sneakers, offer a wide, roomy toe box, ensuring that my toes aren’t squeezed together and out of alignment.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The shoes fold in half, becoming compact enough to fit in your personal item or squeeze into a corner of your carry-on.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
Definition of squeeze
Noun
  • Cakes should be evenly colored and springy when pressed with a finger.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
  • And for coffee lovers, the Barista Touch espresso machine delivers café-quality drinks with the tap of a finger.
    — Melissa Knific, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Definition of finger
Noun
  • The tiny shrimp-like crustaceans quickly returned to the clam, suggesting a strong relationship with the host species.
    — Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Like previous-generation models, the charging case has a slide-open top, rather than open like a clam.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
Definition of clam
Noun
  • Then the built‑in router beams Wi‑Fi around the camp.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Wood beams, terracotta floors, and antique furniture run through every property for a healthy dose of design inspiration.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
Definition of beam
Noun
  • Higher interest rates, a capital market retraction and a push by almost all venture capital into artificial intelligence collectively hit property tech hard.
    — Diana Olick, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The debate over trans gun ownership is especially complicated in the context of the larger push by progressives for widespread gun control.
    — Grace Byron, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of push

Phrases Containing stick

Browse Nearby Words

stews
stick
stick around
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stick

Nglish: Translation of stick for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stick

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