sticky

[ stik-ee ]

adjective

, stick·i·er, stick·i·est.

1. having the property of adhering, as glue; adhesive.
2. covered with adhesive or viscid matter:

   sticky hands.

3. (of the weather or climate) hot and humid:

   It was an unbearably sticky day.

   Synonyms: steamy, damp, sultry, muggy

4. requiring careful treatment; awkwardly difficult:

   a rather sticky diplomatic problem; Breaking the news is going to be sticky.

5. Informal. unpleasant; unfortunate; nasty:

   The villain of the story meets a sticky end.

noun

, plural stick·ies.

1. one of a number of small sheets of paper on a pad, each having an adhesive backing that allows it to be positioned and repositioned on smooth surfaces.

sticky

/ ˈstɪkɪ /

adjective

1. covered or daubed with an adhesive or viscous substance

   sticky fingers

2. having the property of sticking to a surface
3. (of weather or atmosphere) warm and humid; muggy
4. (of prices) tending not to fall in deflationary conditions
5. informal.
   difficult, awkward, or painful

   a sticky business

6. informal.
   sentimental
7. (of a website) encouraging users to visit repeatedly

verb

1. informal.
   tr to make sticky

noun

1. See stickybeak
   short for stickybeak
2. an inquisitive look or stare (esp in the phrase have a sticky at )

Derived Forms

• ˈstickily, adverb
• ˈstickiness, noun

Other Words From

• sticki·ly adverb
• sticki·ness noun
• non·sticky adjective
• un·sticky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sticky¹

1720–30; 1910–15 sticky fordef 4; stick ² + -y ¹

Example Sentences

For most insects, the sticky, slingshot ride straight into a frog’s mouth spells the end.

From Science News For Students

The dietitian left her recommendations for Johnson on sticky notes and filed them electronically.

From ProPublica

Sugiura confirmed that the beetles were actively escaping from the frog’s digestive tract by using sticky wax to fix some beetles’ legs together.

From Science News

When threatened, these ocean creatures ooze a sticky mucus that can glow blue for days.

From Science News For Students

So far, they have reported that the lungs are filled with sticky mucus.

From Science News For Students

Paddle8 already has a “sticky collector base who are addicted to the site,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

Empty cigarette packs, liquor bottles, containers sticky with food residue covered the floor.

From The Daily Beast

She is equally desirous of Levine, as animalistic and eager to consume him while sticky with sanguine fluid.

From The Daily Beast

That was cold, and I was covered in sticky blood in winter in England, on a castle wall.

From The Daily Beast

Each of them was coated in something resembling a gray, sticky batter.

From The Daily Beast

How could this be done so that our clothing would be made water-tight and yet not be sticky in summer or stiff in winter?

From Project Gutenberg

The sheets of rubber from which the uppers and soles are cut are at this stage of the work plastic and very sticky.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing more innocent-appearing yet more villainously sticky have I ever before encountered.

From Project Gutenberg

"These, madam," said I, handing her a small plush bag into which I had poured the "salvage" taken from my sticky palms.

From Project Gutenberg

Presently fingers came in contact with certain matter, which was thick and sticky to the touch.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• awkward
• delicate
• heavy
• knotty
• rough
• thorny
• tricky