as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
the novel has an icky sentimentality that makes my skin crawl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of icky
Jake’s latest column explores why the editor of seminal BBC sitcom The Office found an AI fix for a punchline problem that was too icky for the industry.
—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 May 2026
Yes, the guys, especially the dentist (ick) and the icky bride-shopping commanders are creeping and disturbing.
—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Vegas goalie Carter Hart, icky narrative and all, was the best player in the series.
—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
This should be done immediately after mowing because fresh clippings will start to melt and get icky really quickly.
—
Laura Simpson,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for icky
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 May 2026
Yes, the guys, especially the dentist (ick) and the icky bride-shopping commanders are creeping and disturbing.
—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Vegas goalie Carter Hart, icky narrative and all, was the best player in the series.
—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
This should be done immediately after mowing because fresh clippings will start to melt and get icky really quickly.
—
Laura Simpson,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for icky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icky
Adjective
-
Alas, Ligeti proved to be an extraordinarily difficult collaborator, his manic perfectionism colliding with practical reality and leading to unpleasant scenes.
-
The consequences are unpleasant, but can also turn dangerous very quickly as body temperature rises.
Adjective
-
White settlers and frontier pioneers built vast, fenceless cattle stations, battling harsh environments and disease, embracing a hard-living culture that exists to this day.
-
Dish Soap Using harsh chemicals on the outside of your toilet bowl and fixtures is not recommended, according to Meagher.
Adjective
-
The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.
-
Usually a team of elegant offense, Michigan instead clanked 13 triples off the rim and relied on its inside defensive ferocity to win a game nearly as aesthetically unpleasing as UConn’s 53-41 win over Butler in 2011.
Adjective
-
That if you were deemed, as an enslaved person, if you were deemed troublesome or in some way unwanted, you would literally be sold down the river from the more northern states to the deeper south where you would potentially be treated even worse.
-
Offer Real Value, Not Leftovers Most product bundles fail not because the idea is bad but because the execution misses what consumers actually want.
Adjective
-
Including some rather nasty, big corpo bullies who enlist specialist teams to hunt down clues, and other players, too.
-
Betty Kovacs, the eldest daughter of comedian Ernie Kovacs who with her sister Kippie and stepmother, actress-singer Edie Adams, was at the center of a nasty custody battle that kept Hollywood riveted in 1962, has died.
Adjective
-
Lasko’s teammate, Devin Taylor, was able to get up and field the rolling ball that split the two defenders, but Lasko stayed on the ground in what was a pretty ugly crash.
-
His ability to perform a cesarean section — something Doc couldn't dream of — forces the town to reckon with an ugly part of their collective conscience.
Adjective
-
Thankfully, there are self-aware jabs as well, and it’s all couched in a character- and ensemble-centric ending that has hearty portions that help the random sour bite go down smoothly.
-
Wine that has gone bad may have a medicinal or vinegar-like smell and may taste sharp or sour.
Adjective
-
The Red Sox offense has been horrible this season, but Contreras has been everything the club could have hoped for.
-
Your cab driver is taking you on a horrible route.
Cite this Entry
“Icky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icky. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
