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

• unpleasant
• harsh
• unpleasing
• bad
• nasty
• ugly
• sour
• disgusting
• horrible

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 eye midge may have implanted itself elsewhere and there’s no telling where those other icky creatures from Prodigy’s labs have scurried off to, but those are questions that will no doubt be answered once/if FX announces a second season. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025

Of course, there was plenty of sexist underbelly to be exposed, in the dumb questions from reporters in the traveling festival’s local press conferences, or in late-night comedians’ icky, gynophobic jibes. —Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Sep. 2025

That icky moment was indeed a truth from Mescal, which O'Connor easily divined. —Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025

Wryly tender and respectfully told, director John Duigan's coming-of-age romance is a warm and fuzzy confection that stops short of being icky. —Michelle Kung, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps baby talk alteration of sticky

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above