1
as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact
both sides of the tape are sticky, making it a little tricky to work with
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humid
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture
a warm sticky day when all we wanted to do was sit somewhere with air-conditioning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
an especially sticky conversation about money matters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
sticky love scenes that will bore cynics to death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sticky
What really sets it off for me is two of the menu items: the pork sticky ribs and the jalapeño cilantro margarita.
—
Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 14 Feb. 2026
Lemon squares, brownies, sticky pecan bars, apple cake, sandy almond cookies.
—Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
And inflation, while still sticky, has remained stable in recent months.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
These pests can cause yellowing leaves, sticky residue, fine webbing, and stunted growth.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sticky
Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 14 Feb. 2026
Lemon squares, brownies, sticky pecan bars, apple cake, sandy almond cookies.
—Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
And inflation, while still sticky, has remained stable in recent months.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
These pests can cause yellowing leaves, sticky residue, fine webbing, and stunted growth.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sticky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky
Adjective
-
Michael Silva-Nash, president of Molly Maid, details how to easily remove any adhesive residue.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The romantic Netflix drama is set in London in the early 1800s, and while bandages existed, small adhesive bandages, like the one Araminta wore, didn't come around until later, a TikToker pointed out.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Panicle hydrangeas are robust plants that thrive in the hot and humid summers of the Deep South.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Storage Tip Store bulbs in dark, cool, and moderately humid conditions.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But having dodged the traps of the social media news era, The Economist now faces looming long-term structural challenges that may be more difficult to avoid.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Frontflips are generally more difficult than backflips for both humans and robots.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The result is a sentimental arts-and-crafts project given cinematic form, in ways that occasionally blur the line between reality and artistic representation.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Well, there’s the sentimental side of me that grew up watching Carson that liked that.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Wipe the interior with a clean damp cloth followed by a clean towel for drying.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the vent covers.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Takaichi has proposed tougher policies on immigration and foreigners, something that resonates with a growing frustration in Japan.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Bryant was tough to stop and scored nine of her 23 points in the first quarter.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In a women’s semifinal, Slovak Marianna Jagercikova got snow stuck in the bindings of her ski boots, causing a sloppy transition, which ended her chances of advancing to the final.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Drop shoulders and a high-low hemline keep the top relaxed, while the classic wide-leg pants offer pajama-like comfort without looking sloppy.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His sloped shoulders suggested bodily power that was sleepy and sly; his large head and dark, badly cut hair amplified the weight and solidity of him, but his lips were sensitive and a little slack, as if yearning for something he’d been long deprived of.—
Mary Gaitskill,
New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Derived from eucalyptus wood, the material is gentle on sensitive skin, manages moisture, and has a silky, luxe texture.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sticky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
