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Definition of tacky

tacky

/ˈtæk.i/
tack · y
Adverb:tackily
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tacky Lexical Profile

tacky Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Showing poor taste, low quality, or a lack of style and refinement; cheap and gaudy.

Example

"The souvenir shop was filled with tacky plastic trinkets and neon postcards."

2

Retaining a slightly sticky feel, especially of glue, varnish, or paint that is not yet completely dry.

Example

"Wait until the primer feels slightly tacky before applying the second coat of paint."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for tacky

• Rhymes for tacky

• Nearby Words

tackiness
tackle
tackler
tacky
taco
tacoma
tact

Word Origin & Etymology

The word has two distinct origins: the sense of 'slightly sticky' derives from the 18th-century noun tack ('stickiness'), whereas the sense of 'cheap or in poor taste' arose in the 19th-century American South from tackey, a term for a small, inferior horse and later for a person of low social standing.

Cite this Entry

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