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sticky Synonyms

Another word for sticky

Choosing another word for sticky depends on context, so the 35 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 6 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Tending or designed to adhere to a surface or object on contact; covered with an adhesive orviscous substance.

Usage Example

"The children's hands were tacky after eating the melted cotton candy."

Strongest
tacky
adhesive
gummy
Strong
gooey
gluey
viscous
syrupy
glutinous

• adjective (Context 2)

(Of the weather) unpleasantly hot and humid, causing perspiration to cling to the skin.

Usage Example

"August in the coastal city is notorious for its hot, muggy afternoons."

Strongest
muggy
humid
sultry
Strong
clammy
close
stifling
sweltering
oppressive
steamy

• adjective (Context 3)

(Informal) Involving awkward, delicate, or difficult problems that are hard to resolve.

Usage Example

"The negotiators found themselves in a tricky situation when both parties refused to compromise on the budget."

Strongest
tricky
awkward
thorny
Strong
delicate
touchy
ticklish
dicey
knotty
hairy
difficult

• noun (Context 4)

(Informal) A small piece of paper with a strip of mild adhesive on the back, used for temporarily attaching notes to documents or surfaces.

Usage Example

"She left a yellow sticky note on her colleague's monitor with the time of the afternoon meeting."

Strongest
sticky note
post-it

• adjective (Context 5)

(In economics and business) resistant to rapid change or adjustment, such as prices or wages; or (of a website or product) engaging enough to retain users' attention.

Usage Example

"Economists noted that nominal wages tend to be inflexible even during periods of declining demand."

Strong
inflexible
rigid
inelastic
engaging
compelling

• noun (Context 6)

(Computing) A post or thread in an online forum that is pinned to the top of a page so that it remains visible regardless of newer entries.

Usage Example

"Please read the community guidelines in the pinned post at the top of the forum before posting."

Strongest
pinned post

Opposites of sticky

The opposite of sticky shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

nonstick
straightforward
dry
easy
flexible
simple
elastic
crisp
See all opposites of sticky

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Sticky. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/sticky
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