variants
also -ey
i
1
a
: full or having a lot of something
a muddy river [=a river with a lot of mud in it]
dirty hands [=hands with a lot of dirt on them]
b
: having the qualities of something
gooey [=wet and sticky like goo]
: made of or seeming to be made of something
waxy
c
: resembling something
icy [=like ice; very cold]
wintry temperatures [=temperatures that are cold like winter temperatures]
a homey atmosphere
d
: very interested in something
outdoorsy [=enthusiastic about activities done outside]
2
a
: tending to do something
chatty [=tending to chat]
: wanting or needing to do something
sleepy
b
: causing or performing a specified action
a drowsy afternoon [=an afternoon that makes you feel ready to drowse/sleep]
curly hair [=hair that curls]
i
: an act of doing something
inquiry [=an act of inquiring]
-y
3 of 3Cite this Entry
“-y.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/-y. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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