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

Derived Forms

• ˈstickiness, noun
• ˈstickily, adverb

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

His rhymes are intermittently clever and the chorus contains several sticky hooks, but that fresh, benevolent trickster’s energy that made “Old Town Road” feel so ahead of the curve still remains an elusive quantity.

From New York Times

Australian scientists have solved a mystery which has gripped Sydney: what were the sticky dark blobs which washed up on some of the city's famed beaches last month?

From BBC

Recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, Summer In The City is a 1960s rock classic, full of ominous organ chords and powerful drum hits that capture the sticky filth of an oppressive heatwave.

From BBC

The string hit the fan in the early 2000s, when police say particularly sticky Halloween celebrations left Hollywood property owners with about $200,000 in annual cleanup and recovery costs.

From Los Angeles Times

It works by clearing a sticky protein from the brain - called amyloid - which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's.

From BBC

Related Words

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