stickier; stickiest
1
a
b(1)
(2)
: coated with a sticky substance
2
: humid, muggy
also : clammy
3
: tending to stick
4
a
: disagreeable, unpleasant
came to a sticky end
b
c
: difficult, problematic
a sticky situation
5
: excessively sentimental : cloying
stickily adverb
stickiness noun

Examples of sticky in a Sentence

The sap is very sticky. There is a sticky substance on the table. The paint was still sticky. The weather was hot and sticky.
Recent Examples on the Web Cons The formula is slightly sticky, but that goes away when layering other skincare products on top. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024 Resin-rich sap, including pine sap, is particularly sticky. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 While most brands benefit from a good stir or a quick whip in a mixer, others are hopelessly greasy or sticky. Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024 This lightweight product absorbs quickly without feeling sticky. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 The trick to reproducing this in gluten-free baking is to create a dough that’s sticky and thick enough to do the same. Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024 Microsoft ran into a sticky situation last month when reports surfaced that its Copilot chatbot was generating harmful and disturbing responses. Susan Howson, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 Slok also flagged a tight labor market and sticky wage inflation, alongside manufacturing, services, and rental data trending higher. Carter Johnson, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 Rather than being sticky, however, the formula is lightweight and sinks in quickly to thoroughly moisturize skin, preparing it for steps ahead. Deanna Pai, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sticky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sticky was in 1688

Dictionary Entries Near sticky

Cite this Entry

“Sticky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sticky. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sticky

adjective
stickier; stickiest
1
a
: adhesive entry 1, gluey
sticky syrup
b
: coated with a sticky substance
the tabletop was sticky
2
: muggy, humid
a hot sticky day
3
: tending to stick
sticky windows
stickily adverb
stickiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sticky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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