stick 1 of 2

1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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stick

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stick
Verb
Philips sticked away a backhand attempt by Minnesota’s Brooke McQuigge just 35 seconds into overtime, with the Frost forward getting loose in front of the Ottawa net. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 May 2025 An animated Wheel Of Time, for instance, could stick closer to the source material while costing a fraction of what a live-action series costs. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
Two of those tallies came off Tkachuk’s stick while the Oilers were short-handed. The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 13 June 2025 Eureka Innova Cordless Stick Multi-Surface Vacuum for $207: This is a good stick vacuum at a reasonable price. Nena Farrell, Wired News, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for stick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stick
Verb
  • Resting the shrimp before frying gives the breading the chance to adhere.
    Kia Damon, Southern Living, 2 June 2025
  • To adhere it onto the overflow drain, run warm water against the suction cup side and press it firmly against the tub.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Fox One is launching by the fall, and puts sports at the forefront of its overall offering.
    John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Every hard-working American deserves a living wage that helps put a roof over their head and food on the table–$7.25 an hour doesn't even come close.
    / CBS News, CBS News, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Early morning stabbing in Downtown Pittsburgh sends one person to hospital Food & Drink Product Recall Walmart Kroger Mary Cunningham Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 18 June 2025
  • Wohl allegedly tried to stab the officer, who had knife marks on his vest, sources said.
    Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Despite remaining hugely cash-generative at the operating level, outgoings on player transfers, loan interest and the £50million investment at the Carrington training ground have squeezed their ability to spend quite so readily as in the past.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • Team-building is not about squeezing sufficient value out of every single contract or assembling a roster of yes men.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • Harbaugh keeps his fingers in all areas of team building, but his greatest strength is his ability to evaluate offensive and defensive line execution.
    Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • And his dream of economic sovereignty is slipping through his fingers.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • The menu has something for everyone—chicken wings, Hatteras-style clam chowder, jumbo shrimp, and quarter-pound hot dogs.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2025
  • Catch a sunset over Chincoteague Bay, enjoy a nearby beach, or dig your own clams and inspect your own oysters on an interactive shellfish tour.
    Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • With an overall length of 364-feet, beam of over 52-feet, and displacement of 4,550 gross tons, Y726 is one of the largest yachts by volume Oceanco has ever built.
    Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • Excavations uncovered a section of wooden pipe built from three tree trunks and measuring over 3 feet across as well as some other beams and wicker used to construct the well.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • For months, Trump said he was dedicated to a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions.
    Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • Advertisement The spending push is not just about addressing Trump’s complaints that the allies aren’t paying their fair share for defense.
    Adam Rasmi, Time, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.

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