icky

adjective

ˈi-kē 

ickier; ickiest

: offensive to the senses or sensibilities : distasteful

put off by her icky triteness

—Renata Adler

ickiness

ˈi-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• bad
• bitter
• disagreeable
• displeasing
• distasteful
• harsh
• nasty
• rotten
• sour
• uncongenial
• unlovely
• unpalatable
• unpleasant
• unpleasing
• unsavory
• unwelcome
• wicked
• yucky
• yukky

Examples of icky in a Sentence

The trail was icky with mud.

the novel has an icky sentimentality that makes my skin crawl

Recent Examples on the Web

The Prime release should play great at any scale while its stars are crossed at one another, but miscalculates their chemistry in a gratuitous and slightly icky epilogue. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025

But that’s the icky turmoil that comes with politics at the dinner table. —Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025

Life's unknowns are frustrating and tedious and just downright icky. —Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

However, for a cultural icon of Chappelle’s caliber, with his demonstrated capacity to advocate for marginalized groups, for someone like that to consistently reduce the trans community to icky, screechy scolds right as their very existence is being legislated away is a waste and a disgrace. —Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps baby talk alteration of sticky

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above