1
as in inappropriate
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste
it was tacky to wear sneakers to the wedding tacky plastic flowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
a tacky old couch that needed new upholstery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact
don't touch the walls while the fresh paint is still tacky
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of tacky
Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Her dress, makeup, hair and nails are tacky!
—Essence, 11 May 2026
Canned frosting tends to be pretty stiff, thick, and tacky.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 7 May 2026
The bronzed skin is tacky with the bird’s own fat and sugars, and beautifully caramelized along every ridge.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tacky
Adjective
Mahsa Afsharpour, the founder of Saga Interiors, has good advice for making sure stone statues don't skew tacky.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Her dress, makeup, hair and nails are tacky!
—Essence, 11 May 2026
Canned frosting tends to be pretty stiff, thick, and tacky.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 7 May 2026
The bronzed skin is tacky with the bird’s own fat and sugars, and beautifully caramelized along every ridge.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tacky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tacky
Adjective
-
Padilla saw a study from the United States Public Interest Research Group, where researchers tested three AI toys with a series of inappropriate questions to gauge the guardrails.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Urban Institute detailed in 2024 how declining government funding for public spaces had left many dilapidated and underutilized, or privatized and no longer free.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
-
Despite the dilapidated state, the couple fell in love with its ancient olive trees, a creek and a network of aqueducts winding through the fields.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific brand, because adhesive chemistry and wear time vary.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
-
For wearers whose sensors regularly peel up early, adhesive overpatches can extend wear time.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Panko breadcrumbs add crunch; mozzarella makes cheesy pockets; and there's enough sauce for every bite.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
The combination of crunchy romaine lettuce, sweet tomatoes, bitter red onion, and briny pepperoncini is the perfect balance to a cozy, cheesy entree.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Underdog startups and neglected divisions tell similar stories.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2026
-
Cinematographer Guillermo Garza shoots neglected settings like fine art, embracing the grime.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But when rains fall heavily between November and April, sticky clay soils make traveling around it tricky.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
One non-stick skillet for delicate foods (eggs, omelets, fish) and sticky batters (pancakes).—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
The trend was further compounded in koalas with chlamydiosis -- a common bacterial disease among the species -- and those found in unsuitable conditions, Mella said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
The target of his satire is not just the wealthy, castle-dwelling Jo Stoyte, clearly modeled on Hearst, but American society writ large, with its trashy consumerism and childish veneration of riches.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
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The component parts include herself, a fashionable, high-ish brow, and maybe trashy auteur (Abel Ferrara, Olivier Assayas, Catherine Breillat, her own dad), a strong genre element, and dabs of very deliberate provocation.—
David Katz,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tacky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tacky. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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