chiefly US, informal
: extremely or excessively sweet : sickly sweet
sticky-sweet caramel
a love song full of sticky-sweet sentiment

Examples of sticky-sweet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This serves as the base for perfectly crisp New York-style pies sturdy enough to withstand hearty toppings like dozens of charred pepperoni cups plus creamy ricotta and sticky-sweet hot honey. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026 Guests at Benyue could sample a sprawling array of Chinese and Chinese-American dishes, from sweet and sour chicken to sticky-sweet red bean buns and chicken feet. Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 8 Jan. 2026 The coffee chain is blanketing the country, one sticky-sweet, psychedelically colored beverage at a time. Tom Foster, Bloomberg, 5 Jan. 2026 Tatiana’s are downright indulgent, served sitting in a thick, sticky-sweet reduction that sent warmth radiating from my belly to my bones. New York Times, 7 May 2025 Hoisin is sticky-sweet and soy-based, slightly viscous and very savory. Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 21 Feb. 2025 Leave it to Carly Rae Jepsen to turn home-for-the-holidays tension into a sticky-sweet ode to Yuletide angst. Maura Johnston, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024 The rice—once peeled from the wood—is gluey and sticky-sweet and immensely satisfying. Hanya Yanagihara, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sticky-sweet was in 1893

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sticky-sweet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sticky-sweet. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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