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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tacky
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2025
This looks, feels, is tacky and just as good as the expensive brand.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 Apr. 2025
Perhaps that’s why people around the world have had the impulse to gnaw on tacky materials—roots, resins, twigs, blubber, tar made by burning birch bark—for at least 8,000 years.
—Hannah Seo, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2025
It’s gotten bad enough that on Tuesday, Donald Trump had his top advisor and megadonor show off Tesla models for a tacky photo-op in the White House driveway, where the president told Americans to support the company and pledged to buy a Model S himself.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tacky
Adjective
Add carrot mixture to stand mixer bowl; beat on low speed until a soft, tacky dough forms, about 2 minutes.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2025
This looks, feels, is tacky and just as good as the expensive brand.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 Apr. 2025
Perhaps that’s why people around the world have had the impulse to gnaw on tacky materials—roots, resins, twigs, blubber, tar made by burning birch bark—for at least 8,000 years.
—Hannah Seo, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2025
It’s gotten bad enough that on Tuesday, Donald Trump had his top advisor and megadonor show off Tesla models for a tacky photo-op in the White House driveway, where the president told Americans to support the company and pledged to buy a Model S himself.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tacky
Cite this Entry
“Tacky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tacky. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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