STICK Synonyms: 219 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'stick' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stick are adhere , cleave , cling , and cohere . While all these words mean "to become closely attached," stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. // couldn't get the label to stick

Q: When would 'adhere' be a good substitute for 'stick'?

While in some cases nearly identical to stick , adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together. // antibodies adhering to a virus

Q: When is 'cleave' a more appropriate choice than 'stick'?

While the synonyms cleave and stick are close in meaning, cleave stresses strength of attachment. // the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Q: In what contexts can 'cling' take the place of 'stick'?

The meanings of cling and stick largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils. // clinging to a capsized boat

Q: When might 'cohere' be a better fit than 'stick'?

In some situations, the words cohere and stick are roughly equivalent. However, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass. // eggs will make the mixture cohere

stick 1 of 2

verb

Definition of stick next

as in to adhere

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion those magnets are strong enough to stick to the refrigerator without any problems

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to put

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stab

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it

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as in to squeeze

to rob by the use of trickery or threats she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site

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stick

2 of 2

noun

as in finger

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as in clam

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as in beam

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as in stab

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How does the verb stick contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stick are adhere, cleave, cling, and cohere. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

When would adhere be a good substitute for stick?

While in some cases nearly identical to stick, adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

When is cleave a more appropriate choice than stick?

While the synonyms cleave and stick are close in meaning, cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

In what contexts can cling take the place of stick?

The meanings of cling and stick largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When might cohere be a better fit than stick?

In some situations, the words cohere and stick are roughly equivalent. However, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

Examples of stick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Both carrots and grapes are fitted with horses’ heads and stick appendages. —

David Toomey, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2024 The other side: The Harris campaign doesn't expect the leftist attacks to stick, a campaign source told Axios. —

Andrew Solender, Axios, 16 Aug. 2024

Noun

The convenient design of the eye brightener stick makes application easy and perfect for on-the-go use. —

Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2024 Craft a one-of-a-kind walking stick on Saturday at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft using branches from a crepe myrtle that toppled over during Hurricane Beryl. —

Jay R. Jordan, Axios, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stick

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.

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Last Updated: 4 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of stick

verb

noun

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