sweaty

American  

[swet-ee] / ˈswɛt i /

adjective

sweatier, sweatiest

1. covered, moist, or stained with sweat.

2. causing sweat.

3. laborious.

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sweaty British  

/ ˈswɛtɪ /

adjective

1. covered with sweat; sweating

2. smelling of or like sweat

3. causing sweat

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Other Word Forms

• sweatily adverb
• sweatiness noun

Etymology

Origin of sweaty

First recorded in 1325–75, sweaty is from the Middle English word swety. See sweat, -y ¹

Example Sentences

People started lining up outside appliance outlets and department stores, risking life and limb to get their sweaty hands on one of the limited-quantity, only-while-supplies-last TVs, power tools, personal computers or designer camisoles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their heart rate goes up; they get sweaty and more nervous in general.

From Scientific American

Thomas Hampson, a 67-year-old American baritone, starred as President Richard Nixon, complete with hunched shoulders and a sweaty face he repeatedly dabbed with a white handkerchief.

From Seattle Times

During the trip, I sat in my stripped old Honda Civic, my breath shallow in traffic and across bridges, fingers tight around the steering wheel, palms sweaty the entire way.

From Salon

Bathed in red light, they were dancing with abandon, a sweaty sheen on their faces.

From BBC

Related Words

• moist
• sticky
• stinky
• wet