viscous

adjective

vis·​cous ˈvi-skəs 

1

: having a thick or sticky consistency : viscid

viscous secretions

viscous corn syrup

2

technical : having or characterized by a high resistance to flow

viscous lava

viscously adverb

viscousness noun

Synonyms

• ropy
• ropey
• syrupy
• thick
• viscid

Examples of viscous in a Sentence

viscous syrup that takes forever to pour from a narrow-neck bottle

Recent Examples on the Web

One of those benchmarks is a simulated swimmer: a three-link body resting on the ground in a viscous environment that needs to learn to swim as fast as possible in a certain direction. —Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 10 May 2024

The air is clogged with cigarette smoke and marijuana smoke and tension as viscous as Marmite. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2024

Humans navigate this environment without noticing much resistance, but silk fibers are buffeted about by the velocity of the viscous forces in air. —Jordan Pearson, New York Times, 16 May 2024

The extruder melted thousands of tiny black pellets into a viscous goo. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English viscouse, from Anglo-French viscos, from Late Latin viscosus full of birdlime, viscous, from Latin viscum mistletoe, birdlime; akin to Old High German wīhsila cherry, Greek ixos mistletoe

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

viscous

adjective

vis·​cous ˈvis-kəs 

1

: having the characteristic of stickiness

2

: having or marked by viscosity

Medical Definition

viscous

adjective

vis·​cous ˈvis-kəs 

1

: having a glutinous consistency and the quality of sticking or adhering : viscid

2

: having or characterized by viscosity

a viscous flow