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
1
2
as in puts
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 stabs
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 plucks
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of sticks
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
Consistently entertaining and loopy (pardon the pun) Tales From the Loop is a visual feast that hits the ground running and sticks the landing.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Patrick sticks the blade in, but only after Huw set the table.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Barb appears, and sticks the device in Hank’s neck, pulling out the fusion chip.
—Jack King, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Sir Jimmy sticks a knife in Kelson, which turns out to be a mortal wound, but Spike and Kelly (Erin Kellyman) – aka Jimmy Ink – attack Sir Jimmy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
This pink backdrop adds instant shimmer and comes with double-sided tape that sticks on any smooth surface.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Consistently entertaining and loopy (pardon the pun) Tales From the Loop is a visual feast that hits the ground running and sticks the landing.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Patrick sticks the blade in, but only after Huw set the table.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Barb appears, and sticks the device in Hank’s neck, pulling out the fusion chip.
—Jack King, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Sir Jimmy sticks a knife in Kelson, which turns out to be a mortal wound, but Spike and Kelly (Erin Kellyman) – aka Jimmy Ink – attack Sir Jimmy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
This pink backdrop adds instant shimmer and comes with double-sided tape that sticks on any smooth surface.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticks
Verb
-
Painting indoors during the winter can be a productive way to refresh your space, but temperature and indoor conditions play a major role in how well the paint adheres and dries.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Based on a true story, the novel adheres remarkably to the facts.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Charles then circles around the cruiser and onto a sidewalk, which puts a barrier of snow between him and Jones, who can be seen standing in the street.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
-
At Source puts seven years of joint practice and mutual magnetism to tape without dulling the dynamic buzz of their live sets.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bautista stabs and shoots his assailants in an operatic eruption of violence that is done in a single, extended shot.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Milo tries to be a hero, trying to use pepper spray on Morgan, but Morgan stabs and kills him.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The first layer, called the Level-1 Trigger, or L1T, harvests 100,000 events per second, and the second layer, called the High-Level Trigger, or HLT, plucks 1,000 of those events to save for later analysis.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 2026
-
From the metallic sheen of a beetle to the delicacy of a butterfly, Sandini described how Materia Futura plucks inspiration straight from nature.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Some American viewers were pulled into it by a boring—and slightly embarrassing—poster of Harrison Ford, smirking in a suit, while a loyal Melanie Griffith clings to his shoulder and Sigourney Weaver, as befits her role of nemesis, gives a wicked smile.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The film also situates the Eraserheads within the broader context of Philippine society, exploring how their music became bound up with the nation’s identity during a period of sharp political division.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2026
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The narrative begins with a religious ritual that situates her as a member of Syria’s minority Alawite sect, a variant of Shi’a Islam.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Check out this week’s picks below.—
Natalia Cano,
Billboard,
27 Feb. 2026
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Typically when preparing for a role, Apostolides, as a guitarist, picks a song that encapsulates a character's essence.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Drew Angerer / Getty Images file For months, school officials have floated proposals to relocate or close at least four middle schools on the Upper West Side, citing low enrollment, funding squeezes, academic performance and compliance with a 2022 law requiring class-size reductions by 2028.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
1 Mar. 2026
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While most bullion coins track spot closely, certain products remain in higher demand during supply squeezes or retail rushes.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sticks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticks. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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