as in countryside
the open rural area outside of big towns and cities
grew up in the sticks and is used to traveling miles just to get a loaf of bread
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in puts
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
you can stick that box in the corner until I figure out where to put everything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stabs
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in plucks
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of sticks
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
But this is not the substance of the speech that sticks.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Consistently entertaining and loopy (pardon the pun) Tales From the Loop is a visual feast that hits the ground running and sticks the landing.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Patrick sticks the blade in, but only after Huw set the table.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Barb appears, and sticks the device in Hank’s neck, pulling out the fusion chip.
—Jack King, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Sir Jimmy sticks a knife in Kelson, which turns out to be a mortal wound, but Spike and Kelly (Erin Kellyman) – aka Jimmy Ink – attack Sir Jimmy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
This pink backdrop adds instant shimmer and comes with double-sided tape that sticks on any smooth surface.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Research in habit formation consistently shows that behavior sticks when it is tied to context cues, environment and routine rather than motivation alone.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
Progress sticks when compassion ensures that everyone gets heard.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
But this is not the substance of the speech that sticks.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Consistently entertaining and loopy (pardon the pun) Tales From the Loop is a visual feast that hits the ground running and sticks the landing.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Patrick sticks the blade in, but only after Huw set the table.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Barb appears, and sticks the device in Hank’s neck, pulling out the fusion chip.
—Jack King, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
Sir Jimmy sticks a knife in Kelson, which turns out to be a mortal wound, but Spike and Kelly (Erin Kellyman) – aka Jimmy Ink – attack Sir Jimmy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
This pink backdrop adds instant shimmer and comes with double-sided tape that sticks on any smooth surface.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Research in habit formation consistently shows that behavior sticks when it is tied to context cues, environment and routine rather than motivation alone.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticks
Verb
-
Painting indoors during the winter can be a productive way to refresh your space, but temperature and indoor conditions play a major role in how well the paint adheres and dries.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Based on a true story, the novel adheres remarkably to the facts.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Where to Stay The 1850 Hotel The 20-suite 1850 Hotel puts you right in the heart of Boone, a short walk from charming boutiques, coffee shops, and bars.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
-
When the weather allows, outdoor seating puts diners on eye level with the skyline.—
Kasia Dietz,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bautista stabs and shoots his assailants in an operatic eruption of violence that is done in a single, extended shot.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Milo tries to be a hero, trying to use pepper spray on Morgan, but Morgan stabs and kills him.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The first layer, called the Level-1 Trigger, or L1T, harvests 100,000 events per second, and the second layer, called the High-Level Trigger, or HLT, plucks 1,000 of those events to save for later analysis.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 2026
-
From the metallic sheen of a beetle to the delicacy of a butterfly, Sandini described how Materia Futura plucks inspiration straight from nature.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Empty out the old soil and use a stiff brush to get rid of any soil that clings to the inside or outside of the container.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Journalism, my beloved profession, still clings to the virtues of distance and detachment.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Subtle confidence in business situates you for success as the moon and Venus harmonize.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Such thinking situates Kurdi in a lineage of experimental musicians working in the second half of the twentieth century.—
Olivia Giovetti,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Falcons are led by seniors Foster Huang and Ross Jacobson, who were both All-CIF first-team picks last season.—
Breven Honda,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Shop our top picks from $15 to get a head start on spring cleaning with kitchen organizers to style your kitchen like a chef.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
All this requires a lot of power, which puts a strain on the grid and squeezes local resources.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, in order to protect their identities, their words are read aloud during re-enactments by powerhouse actresses such as Emma Thompson (who squeezes herself beneath an axle) and Kate Dickie (performing, as the nurse, on all fours on Kenmure Street itself).—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sticks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticks. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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