sticky
having the property of adhering, as glue; adhesive.
covered with adhesive or viscid matter: sticky hands.
(of the weather or climate) hot and humid: It was an unbearably sticky day.
requiring careful treatment; awkwardly difficult: a rather sticky diplomatic problem; Breaking the news is going to be sticky.
Informal. unpleasant; unfortunate; nasty: The villain of the story meets a sticky end.
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.
Origin of sticky
1Other words for sticky
Other words from sticky
- stick·i·ly, adverb
- stick·i·ness, noun
- non·stick·y, adjective
- un·stick·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use sticky in a sentence
This is not typical bread dough—it will be a bit sticky, and the recipe does not require any kneading—so don’t be too concerned about the appearance.
Ease into Winter with Backcountry-Approved Comfort Food | Christina Bernstein | November 12, 2020 | Outside OnlineSure, instant coffee has gotten better, but it’s still got that sticky-stale taste.
Now You Can Steep Your Coffee Like Tea—and It's Awesome | AC Shilton | November 11, 2020 | Outside OnlineWe’ll see if dew points try to poke above the slightly sticky 60-degree mark.
D.C.-area forecast: Comfortable warmth continues for days under generally sunny skies | A. Camden Walker | November 6, 2020 | Washington PostHis just-acquired passenger goes into the petrol station’s shop and comes out carrying a sticky sweet orange soda.
Consultants are widely known for their love of whiteboards—or iterations thereof, including large paper pads, sticky notes, and so forth—to record ideas from client brainstorms.
Before either of these performances remove any stickiness or greasiness with a damp cloth.
The Library of Work and Play: Housekeeping | Elizabeth Hale GilmanIn the morning the jar was carefully inspected for any possible leaks, and Adelaide wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth.
A Little Preserving Book for a Little Girl | Amy WatermanIn the morning the jar was carefully wiped with a damp cloth to remove all stickiness and examined for any possible leaks.
A Little Preserving Book for a Little Girl | Amy WatermanPort wine is a brackish medicine, I hate the stickiness of cordials, and a cocktail I like chiefly to contemplate.
I, Mary MacLane | Mary MacLaneGoodyear at once made up his mind to experiment on this gum and see if he could not overcome its stickiness.
British Dictionary definitions for sticky
/ (ˈstɪkɪ) /
covered or daubed with an adhesive or viscous substance: sticky fingers
having the property of sticking to a surface
(of weather or atmosphere) warm and humid; muggy
(of prices) tending not to fall in deflationary conditions
informal difficult, awkward, or painful: a sticky business
US informal sentimental
(of a website) encouraging users to visit repeatedly
(tr) informal to make sticky
short for stickybeak
an inquisitive look or stare (esp in the phrase have a sticky at)
Derived forms of sticky
- stickily, adverb
- stickiness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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