sticky

sticky — adjective

1. covered with or containing a glue-like substance that causes things to attach to

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

covered with or containing a glue-like substance that causes things to attach to it when they touch it

Example

Aylin's hands were sticky after she ate the honey-covered bread.

collocation: sticky hands / sticky fingers

Christopher used sticky tape to fasten the gift box for mailing.

collocation: sticky tape

Common collocations
  • sticky hands
  • sticky fingers
  • sticky tape
  • sticky surface
  • sticky rice
  • sticky substance
Synonyms
  • adhesive

    more technical; used for products designed to stick, like tape or glue

  • tacky

    slightly sticky, often used for paint or varnish that has not fully dried

  • gluey

    thick and sticky like glue, often with a negative connotation

  • gooey

    thick, soft, and sticky — commonly used for food like melted cheese or chocolate

Antonyms
  • dry

    completely free of moisture or stickiness

  • smooth

    not rough or adhesive to the touch

  • non-stick

    coated so that things do not attach to the surface

Grammar Patterns

sticky + noun

be + sticky

Usage Note

Frequently used to describe food spills, glue, paint, tape, and bodily substances like sweat or honey.

Common Mistakes

The window is sticky because it will not slide.
The window is stuck because it will not slide.
'sticky' describes a surface with adhesive quality; 'stuck' means something is fixed in place and cannot move.

2. describes weather or air that is uncomfortably hot and damp, so that the skin fe

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes weather or air that is uncomfortably hot and damp, so that the skin feels wet and clothes may cling to the body

Example

The weather in Taipei was so sticky that Yan's shirt stuck to her back.

During the sticky summer months, the Watanabe family stayed indoors with the air conditioner on.

collocation: sticky summer

Common collocations
  • sticky weather
  • sticky summer
  • sticky afternoon
  • sticky heat
  • sticky evening
Synonyms
  • humid

    more formal and neutral; describes high moisture in the air without implying discomfort

  • muggy

    informal, similar to sticky but with a stronger sense of oppressive discomfort

  • sultry

    hot and humid, often with a romantic or dramatic tone

Antonyms
  • cool

    pleasantly low in temperature

  • dry

    without moisture in the air, even if hot

Grammar Patterns

sticky + noun (weather, summer, heat)

be + sticky (of weather)

Usage Note

Commonly used in informal speech to describe summer weather in tropical or subtropical regions. More specific than 'hot' because it combines temperature and humidity.

Common Mistakes

The weather is very sticky today, so bring an umbrella for rain.
The weather is very sticky today, so I feel sweaty even without moving.
'sticky' describes humidity, not rain.

3. describes a situation, problem, or question that is tough to manage, often becau

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a situation, problem, or question that is tough to manage, often because it involves embarrassment or the risk of conflict

Example

The manager was in a sticky situation when two team members refused to work together.

collocation: sticky situation

Ava's question about the budget was sticky, and no one wanted to answer it directly.

Common collocations
  • sticky situation
  • sticky problem
  • sticky issue
  • sticky moment
  • sticky subject
Synonyms
  • tricky

    suggests something that requires skill or careful handling, slightly less serious than sticky

  • awkward

    emphasizes embarrassment or social discomfort

  • delicate

    needs to be handled with care and sensitivity, more formal

  • unpleasant

    focuses on the discomfort rather than the difficulty

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

sticky + noun (situation, problem, issue)

be + sticky

Usage Note

Typically used for interpersonal or professional difficulties rather than technical or academic problems. Avoid in formal writing; use 'difficult' or 'delicate' instead.

Common Mistakes

The math exam was very sticky.
The math exam was very difficult.
'sticky' for difficult is used for situations and personal problems, not for academic or technical challenges.

4. refusing to change one's position or make allowances, especially about rules, de

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

refusing to change one's position or make allowances, especially about rules, details, or conditions

Example

The hotel manager was sticky about letting guests check in before three o'clock.

pattern: be sticky about [doing something]

Élise's landlord was sticky about the no-pets rule and would not make any exceptions.

Common collocations
  • sticky about
  • sticky about the rules
  • sticky about details
Synonyms
  • strict

    more common and neutral; does not carry the informal tone of 'sticky'

  • rigid

    more negative and formal; suggests an unwillingness to adapt at all

  • unyielding

    formal; emphasizes firm refusal to compromise

Antonyms
  • flexible

    willing to change rules or make exceptions

  • lenient

    not strict, willing to overlook rules

Grammar Patterns

be + sticky + about + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Almost always used with the preposition 'about' followed by a noun or gerund. The subject is typically an authority figure or institution in charge of enforcing rules.

5. describes a website, app, shop, or other venue that captures and holds people's

5.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a website, app, shop, or other venue that captures and holds people's interest, making them linger rather than leave quickly

Example

The new cooking website is sticky — visitors spend an average of twenty minutes on it.

The Zhongxiao East Road boutique feels sticky with its friendly staff and cozy lighting.

Common collocations
  • sticky website
  • sticky app
  • sticky content
  • sticky shop
Synonyms
  • engaging

    more general, not limited to time spent; can describe any interesting content or experience

  • addictive

    stronger and more negative; suggests users cannot stop, sometimes with harmful outcomes

  • compelling

    more formal; describes content that strongly holds attention

Antonyms
  • forgettable

    not interesting enough to keep people's attention

  • boring

    causing people to leave quickly

Grammar Patterns

sticky + noun (website, app, shop)

be + sticky

Usage Note

Common in technology and marketing contexts. In digital analytics, 'stickiness' is a measurable metric — how often users return and how long they stay.

Common Mistakes

This restaurant is very sticky — the food is delicious.
This restaurant is very popular
the food is delicious.' — 'sticky' for venues implies visitors linger, not just that they enjoy it.

6. describes educational content or experiences that students remember well over ti

6.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes educational content or experiences that students remember well over time, as if the knowledge stays attached in their memory

Example

The teacher used songs and games to make the vocabulary lessons sticky for her students.

Educational videos that tell a story are more sticky than plain textbook chapters.

collocation: sticky learning

Common collocations
  • sticky learning
  • sticky content
  • sticky lesson
Synonyms
  • memorable

    more general and neutral; does not imply the content was designed to be remembered

  • unforgettable

    stronger; so impressive that it cannot be forgotten

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

sticky + noun (learning, content, lesson)

be + sticky

Usage Note

Borrowed from the marketing concept of 'stickiness' and applied to education. Often used by teachers and educational content designers, not in everyday conversation.

Idioms

a bad/sticky end

idiom

An unpleasant or violent outcome that someone experiences because of their own bad actions.

The thief came to a sticky end when the police caught him.

If you keep lying, you will meet a bad end.

have sticky fingers

idiom

To be likely to steal things, especially small items.

The new cashier had sticky fingers and took money from the register.

Maya warned us that her cousin has sticky fingers, so hide your valuables.

a sticky wicket

idiom

A difficult or awkward situation that is hard to deal with.

We are on a sticky wicket because the client changed the deadline.

Brian found himself on a sticky wicket when his two friends argued.

sticky — noun

Word family

  • stick
    verbA2
  • stuck
    adjectiveB1
  • sticker
    nounA1
  • stickiness
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe things that attach or cling to surfaces, but they differ in register, intensity, and typical use. 'Sticky' is the everyday, all-purpose word — use it for honey, glue, tape, or sweaty hands. 'Adhesive' is more technical and neutral, common in product descriptions ('adhesive tape') and scientific contexts. 'Tacky' describes a milder, surface-level stickiness — paint that has not fully dried or a label that still holds slightly. 'Gluey' is thicker and more unpleasant, like messy craft glue. 'Gooey' is soft, messy, and often appealing in food contexts (melted cheese, warm chocolate). For example: 'The gluey paste was hard to wash off,' but 'The gooey brownie was delicious.' Choose 'sticky' for everyday speech, 'adhesive' for instructions, and 'gooey' for food.

sticky ↗adhesive ↗tackyglueygooey

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sticky situation
  • sticky weather
  • sticky problem
  • sticky issue
  • sticky fingers

Adverbs

  • very sticky
  • extremely sticky
  • a bit sticky
  • slightly sticky

Phrases

  • sticky to the touch
  • get sticky fingers
  • in a sticky spot

Prepositions

  • sticky with
  • sticky to the touch

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'sticky' comes from the Old English verb 'stician', which meant 'to pierce, remain fixed, or adhere.' The original idea was of something being pushed into something else (like sticking a pin into cloth), which later shifted to two things staying attached without being pushed. By the 1500s, 'sticky' was used to describe things with adhesive qualities. Over the centuries, the word picked up metaphorical meanings — 'sticky weather' (where clothes cling to the skin) appeared in the 1800s, and 'sticky situation' (a difficulty that refuses to go away) followed. The digital-age meanings, such as a 'sticky website,' are the newest layer, from the 1990s onward.