Synonyms of tacky

tacky 1 of 2

adjective (1)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inappropriate
• cheesy
• unsuitable
• trashy
• tasteless
• incorrect
• unfashionable
• wrong
• dowdy
• inelegant
• cheap
• loud
• ticky-tacky
• unstylish
• grotesque
• styleless
• unseemly
• unbecoming
• outmoded
• tawdry
• out-of-date
• gaudy
• coarse
• garish
• crude
• kitschy
• vulgar
• common
• graceless
• shoddy
• showy
• glitzy
• ostentatious
• flashy
• low-grade
• sleazy
• unrefined
• passé
• inferior
• kitsch
• second-rate
• lousy
• splashy
• junky
• overdone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elegant
• classy
• appropriate
• tasteful
• sophisticated
• fine
• fashionable
• posh
• stylish
• classic
• chic
• exquisite
• suitable
• proper
• smart
• right
• correct
• fitting
• becoming
• simple
• seemly
• ritzy
• conservative
• neat
• modern
• quiet
• handsome
• understated
• restrained
• genteel
• contemporary
• refined
• up-to-date
• in
• happening
• modish
• swank
• à la mode

2

as in dilapidated

showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect

a tacky old couch that needed new upholstery

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dilapidated
• neglected
• shabby
• miserable
• tatty
• dumpy
• desolate
• scruffy
• seedy
• tired
• tattered
• sleazy
• scrubby
• grungy
• mangy
• abandoned
• ratty
• ragged
• threadbare
• gone to seed
• timeworn
• ruined
• tumbledown
• down-at-the-heels
• beat-up
• broken
• mean
• run-down
• dog-eared
• moth-eaten
• bombed-out
• tatterdemalion
• unkept
• dingy
• damaged
• decrepit
• deteriorated
• forlorn
• wrecked
• destroyed
• ramshackle
• rickety
• decaying
• deteriorating
• godforsaken
• bedraggled
• worn-out
• broken-down
• injured
• hurt
• rackety
• impaired
• harmed
• rattletrap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• new
• fresh
• brand-new
• maintained
• kept-up
• reconstructed
• spiffy
• patched
• smart
• mended
• rebuilt
• cared-for
• spruce

tacky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

ˈta-kē 

as in adhesive

tending to adhere to objects upon contact

don't touch the walls while the fresh paint is still tacky

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adhesive
• sticky
• gummy
• adherent
• glutinous
• tenacious
• gluey
• viscous
• clingy
• viscid
• gelatinous
• syrupy
• gooey
• ropy
• pitchy
• tarry

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonviscous
• nonadhesive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tacky

Adjective

And depending on the era in which the carpet was installed, the color, style, make, or pile height can come off as dated and tacky. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 21 Sep. 2026

There are 19 solid colors to choose from, though some are on the tacky side and don’t look as expensive as others. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Could a fellow traveler hint at the inappropriate, tacky nature of this display? — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026

Over time, the polish builds up, trapping dirt and turning your floors tacky. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2026