sticks 1 of 2

Definition of sticksnext
as in countryside
the open rural area outside of big towns and cities grew up in the sticks and is used to traveling miles just to get a loaf of bread

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sticks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stick
1
as in adheres
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

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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 sticks
Verb
Once the media sticks its oar in, the real reason for the robbery emerges by degrees. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026 Fuji sticks close to its playbook and delivers a camera that's simple to use, captures instant photos with the same analog aesthetic that has made Instax the instant film of choice for going on twenty years. Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026 Fortunately, Swanberg’s millennial gaze never quite gives in to Gen Z cynicism, and the film sticks a satisfying landing that cements it as one of the mumblecore pioneer’s finest films. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026 If nothing sticks, the Dodgers are also not shy about spitting out the pitcher and designating him for assignment. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026 The ball still sticks in his hands on offense. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026 Heathcliff sticks his fingers in a broken egg, Cathy watches her servants enjoying a BDSM moment in the stables while Heathcliff covers her mouth and eyes. Meg Walters, Glamour, 16 Feb. 2026 Progress sticks when compassion ensures that everyone gets heard. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026 But this is not the substance of the speech that sticks. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticks
Verb
  • But Paul Anthony Kelly is a less deft actor than Pidgeon, and he is given material that adheres even closer to the surface of the legend.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
  • But one coach who adheres closely is Army’s Jeff Monken.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Competition, alliances, and egos collide as this group puts public reputations on the line, testing players’ self-reliance, problem-solving, and grit, per the logline.
    Peter White, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Even Bahrain, the smallest Gulf economy, regularly puts the equivalent of more than 3% of GDP into its military.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The shower curtain opens, revealing an old woman, who stabs and decapitates Mary.
    Therie Hendrey-Seabrook, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026
  • But this person who was a friend, who owes her career to me, just stabs me in the back.
    Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Carrera now plucks the melody in single notes.
    Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
  • But if Rick later plucks something from behind that rock at the fire, are others going to start poking around looking for stuff?
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Alyoshka’s mother clings to the hope that her son represents, and finds his reluctance to play his role impossible to understand.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Sprinkle with ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and leaves from 1 fresh basil sprig, chopped, and toss again until the sauce clings to the pasta.
    Demi Lovato, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Each stamp is accompanied by contextual text that situates the object within the broader Revolutionary narrative.
    Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The show boasts high production values, a vaporwave soundtrack that effectively situates it in the 2010s, and, conceptually, very little meat on the bone.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • There are usually one or two prospects who tower over the rest of the draft, and the whole basketball universe knows the top picks well before draft night.
    Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Nobody looking for low taxes picks Connecticut as their home.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Focusing on everyday shapewear, Yummie hugs instead of squeezes like traditional shapewear that can be extremely tight and constrictive.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Short sellers betting against CoreWeave are racking up steep losses as a recent rally squeezes bearish positions.
    Sean Conlon,Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sticks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticks. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

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