1
as in adhering
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 putting
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 stabbing
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 squeezing
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sticking
But sticking it out ended up being beneficial, because those classmates who laughed at his antics became his first audience.
—
Essence, 2 Oct. 2025
China has landed on the Red Planet once, sticking the landing on its first attempt in 2021, setting the Zhurong rover down successfully in southern Utopia Planitia as part of the Tianwen 1 mission.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
But Henley recovered remarkably, sticking his approach shot 10 feet from the hole and seeming to seal a victory in the match.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Dust dough with additional flour while rolling to keep it from sticking.
—Staff Author, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
Fire it up with a Korean-style grill pan—its special grooves keep the meat from sticking and help drain grease.
—Irene Yoo
september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
That means a lot of driving around in his beat-up van and sticking his nose in the business of people who would really just like to do their Late Stage Capitalism in private.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
Applying it to the blade can also keep grass from sticking.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
Some hunters insist upon sticking game to expedite bleeding.
—Maurice H. Decker, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
Essence, 2 Oct. 2025
China has landed on the Red Planet once, sticking the landing on its first attempt in 2021, setting the Zhurong rover down successfully in southern Utopia Planitia as part of the Tianwen 1 mission.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
But Henley recovered remarkably, sticking his approach shot 10 feet from the hole and seeming to seal a victory in the match.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Dust dough with additional flour while rolling to keep it from sticking.
—Staff Author, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
Fire it up with a Korean-style grill pan—its special grooves keep the meat from sticking and help drain grease.
—Irene Yoo
september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
That means a lot of driving around in his beat-up van and sticking his nose in the business of people who would really just like to do their Late Stage Capitalism in private.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
Applying it to the blade can also keep grass from sticking.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
Some hunters insist upon sticking game to expedite bleeding.
—Maurice H. Decker, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticking
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
-
After evaluating 200 hospital patients participating in the King's College London Oral, Dental, and Craniofacial Biobank, researchers found that those adhering most closely to a Mediterranean diet had the lowest levels of gum disease.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Or putting one inside a carry-on just in case.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Shortly thereafter, Dumas turned Birkin’s dreams of an alternative carryall into reality — gifting her with a Birkin bag prototype and putting the silhouette on the market in 1984.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The brutal stabbing death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte light rail directed attention to his crime policies, as many Republicans squarely blamed Cooper.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Oct. 2025
-
As of Monday, suspects have been arrested in the Friday shooting deaths of 18-year-old Jenny Rosales and 28-year-old Chandrashekar Pole, and a suspect has been questioned about the stabbing death of 15-year-old Jacob De La Rosa.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But, to do you any good, squeezing the veins must propel the blood in the right direction, toward the heart.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The earbuds are controlled by squeezing the stem.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bichette, clinging to the dugout railing, threw both his arms in the air in celebration.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Despite the litter washing up onto the beaches nearby, the lagoon itself appeared to be clinging on and the wildlife was flourishing.—
Simon Willis,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sultana, Schneider, and others talk of placing the new party at the core of grassroots institutions meant to radicalize British society from below and bring societal change.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Haberman recommended defining freestanding birthing centers in the local Land Development Code — pulling the definition from the new state law — and placing the centers under the umbrella of medical clinics.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The woman decided to tweak her usual routine by picking different numbers.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Colleague Chad Jennings roasted me in March for picking the M’s.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Simply plucking young stars from viewers’ social-media feeds won’t radically alter or refresh SNL.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Miami is plucking Wilson off the Saints practice squad, likely to fill Hill’s roster spot.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sticking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticking. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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