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

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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

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
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 That sticks closely to the recommendations of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025 Taylor is Connor, a jokester and tough young Westie soldier who sticks close to Roarke to survive in Hell’s Kitchen. Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025 As Prater raises his weapon to fire at Dexter, Harrison sticks the syringe deep inside his chest. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025 Adhesives Craft glue (also known as school glue), glue sticks for a glue gun, and Mod Podge are worth their discount price tag here. Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticks
Verb
  • The new proposal adheres closely to the last ceasefire plan discussed before negotiations fell apart last month.
    Becky Anderson, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • That will be especially difficult given that Ruby tends to push aside anything that puts her in a negative light.
    Alamin Yohannes, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
  • While the dry upland habitat loss puts stress on swamp rabbit populations, the loss and drainage of wetlands also poses a challenge for the struggling rabbits.
    Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 29 Oct. 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
  • 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
  • Frehley picks up on the drummer’s simmering syncopation hereand unleashes a banshee-like howl of a solo that still clings to the band’s rhythm.
    A.D. Amorosi, Variety, 17 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
  • So until the party picks its next presidential nominee—still at least 18 months away—there is no real leader of the Democratic Party.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
  • For the first time in its history, this year’s batch of Gotham nominees includes 10 Best Feature picks.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And now, one such creation slithers, squeezes, and twists through the narrowest corners.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The surgeon withdraws the balloon and then squeezes the implant in through a sterile funnel before closing the incision.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 15 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sticks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticks. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

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