icky

[ik-ee]

adjective

Informal.

ickier, ickiest 

1. repulsive or distasteful.

   Synonyms: nasty, revolting

2. excessively sweet or sentimental.

3. unsophisticated or old-fashioned.

   Synonyms: gooey, gummy

4. sticky; viscid.

icky

/ ˈɪkɪ /

adjective

1. sticky

2. excessively sentimental or emotional

Other Word Forms

• ickiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of icky¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

“Now, the witch doesn’t take kindly to this perspective. Personally, I don’t blame her. It’s reductionist, it’s elitist, and it’s just plain icky. So the witch goes from zero to a hundred—and curses Benefo.”

Read more on Literature

But for now, plenty of market signals suggest that it’s OK for investors to live in a home where there are cockroaches in the walls — as icky as it feels.

Read more on MarketWatch

Fair or not, it’s a bit icky that Hansen is here framed as the sole force behind the program.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He stress-tests our icky, grubby pity for Matthew and, beyond that, the flimsiness of modern fame culture and its fake-it-till-you-make-it inspirational platitudes.

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A female police officer who volunteered to run in plain clothes to catch catcallers has said their behaviour "makes me feel really sort of icky".

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Related Words

• disgusting 
• horrible 
• nasty 
• sickening