sticks 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

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
Unlike the film's 1931 predecessor, del Toro promised that his Frankenstein sticks more closely to the original text. Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025 That always sticks in my head now, something like that coming from a legend like that. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025 Bell then take a straw of his own, sticks it into Peck's mouth, and begins sipping liquid from his pal's oral orifice. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025 But one offer from former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn still sticks in his craw, all these years later — the only offer Abrams-Draine had to play defensive back. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025 With off-putting brusqueness, the acupuncturist sticks needles into my head and left leg, leaves the room—and appears to forget all about me. Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025 Robbie and Jayson have a furious battle, but Jayson sticks the fatal knife stab before fleeing. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025 The cast delivers in terms of performances, and Ashleigh Cummings sticks the landing as the protagonist who must turn her abductors against each other in order to get out alive. Vanessa Maki, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025 Inside the furnace, a reaction takes place that rips the oxygen from the silica and sticks it to the carbon from the wood. IEEE Spectrum, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticks
Verb
  • The Carbona Limescale Remover is effective due to its citric acid gel formula, which tackles mineral buildup and soap scum, and adheres well to surfaces.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The stylus adheres magnetically to the right side of the tablet.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This kind of price tag puts Tucker in reach of teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • One alternate ending in particular puts the phenomenon in a different light.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Alex breaks free and, in a panic, repeatedly stabs Evelyn with the syringe.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Spike takes one of Kelson's tranquilizer darts filled with morphine and stabs Samson in the arm with it.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The dog jumps up and plucks the burger from her—a move that left viewers stunned and amused by the canine's flawless execution.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
  • There may be even greater reasons to put an ad that plucks the heartstrings in front of a broader crowd.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This happens when creosote—a tar-like residue that clings to the inside of the chimney—ignites.
    Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
  • As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By analyzing discourses on development squarely within Native American studies, Yazzie situates capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism into the politics of nation-building.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Durham incorporates archival footage alongside shots of a young Alysia with her father to create a dazzling effect that situates the Abbotts within their own history.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That was true when there were committee picks figuring into the mix, and true since those were done away with.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Shop picks from Kelly Clarkson, Martha Stewart, Joanna Gaines’ home lines, and more while prices start just $15.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As Arizona squeezes more money from its decreasing share of river water, freighting every drop with critical industries and a booming housing market, the price of water is bound to keep climbing.
    Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The country’s geography squeezes a wild variety into a tight map.
    William Jones, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sticks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticks. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sticks

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!