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

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
The right-side fan mount is also covered with a dust filter, which sticks magnetically to the inside of the side panel. — Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026 Selfie sticks dangle off every bridge, and tour groups shuffle behind guides waving flags. — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026 The progress that really sticks occurs when many stakeholders—most notably, customers—are actively involved in a process of co-creation. — Garret Gray, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Joy walks by to get into the walk-in fridge and sticks her tongue out at Gen’s back. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026 In any case, the epilogue sticks the landing and allows audiences to leave the theater feeling riled up rather than hopeless. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026 The graphic below illustrates that Circati is not a centre-back who sticks a foot in too often, preferring to sit off and protect the space. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Open for breakfast and lunch, the eatery sticks largely to the classics—think omelets, pancakes, eggs Benedict, and plenty of biscuits, best enjoyed smothered in gravy, of course. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026 Suppose a teenager visiting a zoo breaks into a lion’s cage and sticks his head into the beast’s mouth. — Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticks
Verb
  • Kiko Milano Eyeshadow Stick’s formula fortunately adheres perfectly to the lids.
    — Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Roll each dough ball in powdered sugar, rolling between your palms so that sugar adheres.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • The latest Channel 12 opinion poll puts Eisenkot first with 23 seats, ahead of the Likud with 21, though other pollsters differ.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • View gallery - 7 images This tiny house takes the look of a traditional mountain lodge and puts it on wheels.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The sequence culminates in the Great Hall, where Ned kicks part of his broken cane to Colum, who stabs MacKinney in the leg.
    — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • But before Bane can finish him off, Batman stabs a Batarang into a little knob on Bane’s wrist gauntlet, the one that controls his intake of Venom.
    — Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Trump sometimes plucks memes from a sprawling ecosystem of online conservative supporters, and sometimes his government staff produces them as part of their official messaging.
    — Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • His torso and thighs grow eye-poppingly muscular beneath their skimpy fur-and-leather togs—a development that does not go unnoticed by a warrior named Red Hair, who plucks the young hunk from his post and tosses him into the prime time of the gladiator pit.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • By roasting the brussels sprouts snuggled into a blanket of grated Parmesan cheese, the cheese melts into a crispy, frico-like sheet that clings onto the sprouts, surrounding them in a lace-like halo.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Sigurd’s departure only deepens this cynicism, which Livia clings to for 27 years — until the pair reconnect on the phone for a truly excruciating conversation.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • This makes your role clear and situates it in the context of goals everyone cares about.
    — Melody Wilding, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The murkiness of it all clarifies by the end of the film, not just in terms of its heroes, villains and message, but Greengrass also situates this story within a recognizable cinematic and storytelling history.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Each journalist picks 10 names from the 30 nominees in descending order, with each position scored on a basis of 15 points for the top choice and one for the 10th.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The slightly bigger but AI-free LG 45 Ultragear OLED (45GX950A-B) and the 39-inch Alienware 39 5K OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3926QW) are better choices and remain our Editors' Choice picks in this category.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • When the user presses their finger on the part of the patch that contains the wet fabric, the pressure squeezes the water out of the material, down one of the microfluidic channels, and into the foaming agent chamber.
    — Ben Coxworth October 23, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In the aerodynamic phenomenon known as ground effect, proximity to that surface squeezes air beneath a craft’s wings to reduce drag and boost lift, with far less propulsive power required than for high-altitude flight.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sticks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticks. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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