sticky

adjective

ˈsti-kē 

stickier; stickiest

1

a

: adhesive

a sticky material

b(1)

: viscous, gluey

sticky syrup

(2)

: coated with a sticky substance

sticky little fingers

… it must have been just repainted, it looked so bright and sticky …

—Lewis Carroll

2

: humid, muggy

also : clammy

3

: tending to stick

4

a

: disagreeable, unpleasant

came to a sticky end

b

: awkward, stiff

c

: difficult, problematic

a sticky situation

5

: excessively sentimental : cloying

stickily

ˈsti-kə-lē 

adverb

stickiness

ˈsti-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of sticky

• adhesive

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

The lightweight, slightly milky formula sank into my skin quickly without feeling sticky or heavy, leaving behind a luminous finish that made my complexion look fresher almost immediately. — Lucy Partington, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026

Food and drink Breakfast includes local yogurts and cheeses, cakes still warm from the oven, fresh fruit, and trays of sticky honeycomb—plus velvety cappuccinos and rocket fuel espressos. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

That emotional shortcut, more than novelty, is what has made the scent sticky with consumers who want their homes and bodies to smell like a specific memory rather than a candy aisle. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Remoisten your hands and shake off excess water any time dough begins to feel sticky. — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sticky

• sticky bun
• sticky fingers
• sticky note
• sticky rice
• sticky-sweet
• sticky tape
• sticky wicket

Rhymes for sticky

• dickie
• dicky
• hickey
• micky
• nicky
• picky
• quickie
• rickey
• tricky
• colicky

Kids Definition

sticky

adjective

ˈstik-ē 

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

ˈstik-ə-lē 

adverb

stickiness

ˈstik-ē-nəs 

noun