1
as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact
both sides of the tape are sticky, making it a little tricky to work with
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humid
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture
a warm sticky day when all we wanted to do was sit somewhere with air-conditioning
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3
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
an especially sticky conversation about money matters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
sticky love scenes that will bore cynics to death
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sticky
In contrast, aphids produce a sticky residue called honeydew that coats foliage and can later develop into a black coating known as sooty mold.
—
Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
The comforter is double-sided, so the cooling fabric surrounds you all night long, while the ultra-breathable fill promotes airflow to help prevent that sticky, overheated feeling that some other bedding can cause.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
Though the sticky sheet is still dominant in the shoe traction market, Gonzales compared it to cleaning eyeglasses with tape rather than a microfiber cloth.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
One reason is that childcare has been, at least within CPI data, and very much so also within our own data, particularly sticky.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sticky
Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
The comforter is double-sided, so the cooling fabric surrounds you all night long, while the ultra-breathable fill promotes airflow to help prevent that sticky, overheated feeling that some other bedding can cause.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026
Though the sticky sheet is still dominant in the shoe traction market, Gonzales compared it to cleaning eyeglasses with tape rather than a microfiber cloth.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
One reason is that childcare has been, at least within CPI data, and very much so also within our own data, particularly sticky.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sticky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky
Adjective
-
Dripping glitter, shimmering adhesive crystals, dramatic slashes of eyeliner and smudges of eyeshadow—there was a playful, shifting experimentalism here, to signal the young characters’ changeability and ingenuity.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
While traditional wallpaper is meticulously pasted to a wall, peel-and-stick attaches quickly with an adhesive backing.—
Shagun Khare,
Martha Stewart,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The warmth and heavy saturation of these paint colors can make an already humid environment, like a bathroom, feel extra muggy, especially with certain types of lighting.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This structure enhances polarization and draws in even more water, strengthening the material’s ability to generate electricity under humid conditions.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But with the Lightning taking back home-ice advantage with this win and the series shifting back to Tampa, where Cooper will have full control of the matchup, the task becomes that much more difficult for the Suzuki line.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Kevin Hart got sentimental sending son Hendrix off to prom — even loaning him a watch for the evening.—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
-
As the next generation of NFL stars showed up in style for football's big night, Jordyn Tyson laced up his older brother Jaylon Tyson's sneakers, which held a bit of their own sentimental sports history.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Rinse it off with a soft, damp cloth.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
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Just apply with a damp microfiber cloth, avoiding soaking the control panels.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That's a tough ask given that this isn't the first time the network's credibility has come into question.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Another tough one, all having to do with writer friends and boundaries (or the lack thereof).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The watery consommé subsumed what few masa dumplings swam their lonesome swirls in the bowl, with cobs of corn left like derelict buoys in the sloppy orange miasma.—
Mike Sutter,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Every league has flaws, but the NBA stands out for how often blowouts, injuries, and sloppy play dominate the product.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The ability to acquire land in fee simple is essential and, in many cases, the most effective and expedient way to protect sensitive landscapes, especially in rapidly developing areas.—
Susan Carr,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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Eating large amounts or consuming them on an empty stomach may increase the likelihood of discomfort in sensitive individuals.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sticky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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