sticky
Americanadjective
-
having the property of adhering, as glue; adhesive.
-
covered with adhesive or viscid matter.
sticky hands.
-
(of the weather or climate) hot and humid.
It was an unbearably sticky day.
-
requiring careful treatment; awkwardly difficult.
a rather sticky diplomatic problem; Breaking the news is going to be sticky.
-
Informal. unpleasant; unfortunate; nasty.
The villain of the story meets a sticky end.
noun
plural
stickiesadjective
-
covered or daubed with an adhesive or viscous substance
sticky fingers
-
having the property of sticking to a surface
-
(of weather or atmosphere) warm and humid; muggy
-
(of prices) tending not to fall in deflationary conditions
-
informal difficult, awkward, or painful
a sticky business
-
informal sentimental
-
(of a website) encouraging users to visit repeatedly
verb
noun
-
short for stickybeak
-
an inquisitive look or stare (esp in the phrase have a sticky at )
Other Word Forms
- nonsticky adjective
- stickily adverb
- stickiness noun
- unsticky adjective
Etymology
Origin of sticky
1720–30; 1910–15 sticky for def. 4; stick 2 + -y 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One close to the seafront, where the near-200-year-old golf club gives way to a spectacular view across the Firth of Forth to the Bass Rock, has its keypad caked in a sticky black ooze.
From BBC
A sustained rise in energy costs, combined with sticky inflation, complicates the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates.
From Barron's
That could signal that the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge will remain sticky, possibly stalling momentum for further interest-rate cuts.
From Barron's
While labor conditions remain a major factor in the Fed’s calculus of rate trajectory, several policymakers have cited sticky inflation as an increasing risk in recent weeks.
From Barron's
“Gold you can eat,” she said, and we licked the sticky mess.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
