Standard Lemma guide

icky

adj · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈɪki/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪki

1

adj

Meaning 1

Unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • I stepped in something icky and it smells terrible.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gross, ishy

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Excessively sentimental.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: schmaltzy, syrupy, treacly, bathetic, cheesy, squishy, corny, drippy, gooey, hokey, icky, kitsch, kitschy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, overemotional, oversentimental, overwrought, sappy, sickly sweet, slushy, soppy, soupy

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Unwell or upset; in a bad state of mind or health.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • I'm not going to work today. I just feel icky.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bad, poorly, sick, ailing, crank, crook, green about the gills, icky, ill, indisposed, infirm, like death warmed over, lousy, maladive, mawkish, off one's feed, on the Pat and Mick, out of sorts, Pat and Mick, punk, puny, queer, ropy, rough, sickish, sickly, sick as a dog, sick as a parrot, tumid, under the weather, unhealthy, unwell, valetudinarian, valetudinary

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

soft and sticky

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gooey

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

very bad

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a lousy play
  • it's a stinking world

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: crappy, lousy, rotten, shitty, stinking, stinky

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

1935, American English; from icky-boo (circa 1920): sickly, nauseated; baby talk corruption of sick; from a sentimental term for jazz music.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: лепкав (lepkav) — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Esperanto: aĉa — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Esperanto: malbongustega — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Finnish: yököttävä — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Finnish: ällö — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • French: dégueulasse — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • French: dégueu — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • French: dégoûtant — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • German: eklig — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • German: ekelig — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • German: fies klebrig — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Italian: disgustoso — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ekkel — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Polish: be — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Portuguese: meloso — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Swedish: äcklig — unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting
  • Bulgarian: сладникав (sladnikav) — excessively sentimental
  • French: cucul — excessively sentimental
  • French: mièvre — excessively sentimental
  • French: sirupeux — excessively sentimental
  • German: kitschig — excessively sentimental
  • Italian: sdolcinato — excessively sentimental
  • Italian: svenevole — excessively sentimental
  • Swedish: sliskig — excessively sentimental