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Definition of icky

icky

/ˈɪk.i/
ick · y
Adverb:ickily
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icky Lexical Profile

icky Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Unpleasantly sticky, slimy, or distasteful to the touch or sight; disgusting.

Example

"The toddler refused to eat the oatmeal because he thought the texture was icky."

2

Slightly unwell, nauseous, or emotionally uncomfortable.

Example

"She felt a bit icky after riding the spinning carnival attraction three times in a row."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for icky

• Nearby Words

icing
ick
ickiness
icky
icon
iconic
iconically

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century, originally as nursery talk derived from 'sick' or 'sticky', and later popularized in 1930s jazz slang to describe overly sweet or sentimental music.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Icky. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/icky
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