How to Use adhesive in a Sentence

adhesive

1 of 2 adjective
  • Cover the cut with an adhesive bandage.
  • With these tests, an adhesive patch is placed over a suspect area of skin.
    — Dallas News, 3 Oct. 2021
  • The same painter’s tape method can be used with adhesive hanging strips.
    — Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2023
  • Then press an adhesive bandage onto each area and yank it off.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
  • If tape is on a box, make sure its adhesive sticks completely.
    — Marc Bona, cleveland, 2 Dec. 2021
  • Several firm blows from the side failed to break the adhesive bond.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2023
  • The mop pad sticks to the mop with velcro, which will become less adhesive over time.
    — Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2023
  • Some people do find that the adhesive strip could be stronger and that the pads sometimes bunch.
    — Rachael Schultz, Health, 2 Mar. 2023
  • Place self-adhesive rubber bumpers on the back corners of the item to hold it away from the wall.
    — Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 22 July 2021
  • The adhesive strips on these nursing pads help keep them in place, even throughout the night.
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The adhesive residue can cause skipping.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Use craft glue adhesive on the lower third of faux pumpkins and dip them in glitter.
    — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2023
  • This method is adhered to a glass pane using adhesive peel and stick backing.
    — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 11 June 2026
  • Let the adhesive dry and then test to see if your floorboard is firmly attached.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
  • This, in turn, can break up the adhesive bond and cause the extensions to fall out sooner.
    — Chloé Valentine Toscano, Allure, 22 Mar. 2023
  • For those who don’t want the vent clip, an adhesive mount version is also available.
    — Nick Hilden, Popular Mechanics, 13 June 2023
  • To finish, cut pretty paper to fit the back of the frame and secure with spray adhesive.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Dec. 2023
  • Start at the floor and attach the garland to the wall with double sided tape or adhesive strips.
    — Grace Gallagher, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025
  • Place it in the center of the fan blade and either use the adhesive backing or glue to secure the weight.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2022
  • Depending on the quality of the nails and adhesive, most press-on nails last from one to two weeks.
    — Madison Yauger, PEOPLE.com, 8 July 2022
  • So Well The magic of a lint roller lies in its adhesive surface.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Use a small adhesive dot, a tiny hook, or a pin to secure the key over the corresponding area on the map.
    — Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 17 Jan. 2026
  • The adhesive trap under a prep table with a slicer wasn’t cleared and contained five dead roaches.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
  • However, there are some surfaces that can be damaged by an adhesive lint roller.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
  • In this case, the glue will act as the main hold while the screws essentially serve as clamps until the adhesive dries.
    — Jean Levasseur, Popular Science, 26 July 2023
  • Keep in Mind The mop pad sticks to the mop with velcro, which will become less adhesive over time.
    — Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2023
  • This sort of tire design is less likely to stir up any of the razor-sharp and adhesive dust that sits on the moon’s surface.
    — Greg Fink, Car and Driver, 21 June 2022
  • The pads adhere to furniture when the self-adhesive paper is pulled off and the sticky side is exposed.
    — Ariel Scotti, PEOPLE.com, 10 Nov. 2021
  • The strong suction works on any flat surface, and the adhesive backing sticks firmly on phones and phone cases.
    — Matthew Parker, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2023
  • The desk even came with some adhesive hooks to help better organize the cords and keep them (mostly) hidden.
    — Ashleigh Morley, Verywell Health, 7 Feb. 2023

adhesive

2 of 2 noun
  • You'll need a strong adhesive to attach the boards.
  • The adhesive can strip away the paint and leave the shade damaged.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Once flat, use craft adhesive to paste the leaves onto plain place mats.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The adhesive isn’t very sweat-proof and can move around when moisture seeps in.
    — Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 2 Feb. 2024
  • Wilson was born with adhesive in her palms.
    — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Apply a coat of adhesive on top of the leaves to secure them in place.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
  • But older models can be a pain to work with due to their stronger adhesive.
    — Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 26 July 2023
  • The card-size grip attaches to a phone or case with an adhesive.
    — Nicole Nguyen, WSJ, 27 Mar. 2022
  • Too much water can cause the adhesive to loosen or the paper to tear.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
  • The heat can weaken the brush’s adhesive.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Pick up some construction adhesive or wood glue to hold them in place.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The housing is held in place with an adhesive on the back of the wearer’s arm.
    — Jenna Schnuer, Fortune Well, 24 Feb. 2023
  • Set a damp sponge on a dish, and use it to moisten the adhesive on the envelopes.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
  • He was covered from head to tail with thick adhesive and unable to eat or drink.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
  • No adhesive, no leather, no apple pie!
    — Faith Salie, CBS News, 14 June 2026
  • The set comes with a sturdy adhesive that can hold up to 40 pounds.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2025
  • This easy-to-use adhesive was a little less messy than white, liquid glue.
    — Fox News, 27 Aug. 2022
  • Lint roller adhesive leaves behind a small amount of residue that can damage some items.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Use a strong adhesive to attach them to the bottom.
    — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 27 May 2026
  • Using black adhesive felt cut out two circles for ghost eyes and place them on a white beanie or cap.
    — Irene Richardson, Country Living, 20 Oct. 2022
  • D’Angelo has become the adhesive that has healed us.
    — Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
  • Peel away the backing on a magnetic sheet and press a paint chip to the adhesive.
    — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023
  • And some pore strips are really more like an adhesive that pulls out the extra gunk.
    — Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 21 July 2023
  • Scrape the area free of any leftover adhesive or thinset with a stiff putty knife.
    — Sal Vaglica, USA TODAY, 8 May 2022
  • First, trace a leaf shape onto your pumpkin, then fill it with metal-leaf adhesive.
    — Megan Stein, Peoplemag, 12 Oct. 2022
  • My clue, of course—Addy’s sieve—is just a sneaky way of saying adhesive.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2022
  • Apply a gilding adhesive (such as this one), making sure not to leave brush strokes or roller marks.
    — Kristin Tablang, House Beautiful, 10 May 2022
  • Those battery cells are fixed with adhesive and cured for 26 minutes.
    — IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2021
  • Remove the filter, and dust and oil attack the adhesive.
    — Mike Feibus, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Then place a dowel through the center and secure the urns and pumpkins in place with adhesive.
    — Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adhesive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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