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

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

"We found the sticky spheres contained hundreds of different components," said Associate Professor Jon Beves from the University of NSW, who led the investigation.

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

Black said she paced throughout her house tapping on her shirt whenever the Dodgers were in “sticky” situations, as they were in the fifth inning of Game 5, apparently unable to muster a single hit off of Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole.

From Los Angeles Times

“History tells us that norms are sticky,” says Ashwini Deshpande of Ashoka University.

From BBC

Related Words

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