1
as in inappropriate
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste
it was tacky to wear sneakers to the wedding tacky plastic flowers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
a tacky old couch that needed new upholstery
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact
don't touch the walls while the fresh paint is still tacky
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tacky
Alessandra Schade, Vogue, 7 June 2025
The brand launched a fireworks-display-worth of flavors in cans with Technicolor illustrations that look like a 1980s suburban mall fever dream, evoking tacky Gen X nostalgia brands like LA Gear, Ocean Pacific and Camp Beverly Hills.
—Liza Weisstuch, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
While other personal lubricants of this nature get sticky or tacky fairly quickly, Lelo's formula simply doesn’t.
—Amanda Chatel, Wired News, 7 June 2025
For as long as hungry birds have swooped from the saloon’s leafy branches to stalk diners’ steak fries, Le Tub, the kitschy-divey national treasure on Hollywood’s Intracoastal Waterway, has delighted and polarized locals with tacky decor and huge hamburgers.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tacky
Adjective
With drinks in hand and dogs underfoot, guests can wander through the studios, which remain open for the occasion, canvases still tacky with wet paint.
—Alessandra Schade, Vogue, 7 June 2025
The brand launched a fireworks-display-worth of flavors in cans with Technicolor illustrations that look like a 1980s suburban mall fever dream, evoking tacky Gen X nostalgia brands like LA Gear, Ocean Pacific and Camp Beverly Hills.
—Liza Weisstuch, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
While other personal lubricants of this nature get sticky or tacky fairly quickly, Lelo's formula simply doesn’t.
—Amanda Chatel, Wired News, 7 June 2025
For as long as hungry birds have swooped from the saloon’s leafy branches to stalk diners’ steak fries, Le Tub, the kitschy-divey national treasure on Hollywood’s Intracoastal Waterway, has delighted and polarized locals with tacky decor and huge hamburgers.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tacky
Cite this Entry
“Tacky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tacky. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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