adj C1 Advanced

clammy

KLA-mee

Clammy (adj) means unpleasantly cold and damp to the touch, especially skin. Example: “His palms went clammy before the interview.”

adj

Unpleasantly cold and damp to the touch, especially skin.

"His palms went clammy before the interview."

"The basement air felt cold and clammy."

How to Use Clammy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCold, damp, and slightly sticky-feeling — often describing nervous sweat.

Common pairings

clammy hands clammy skin cold and clammy

Word Forms

clammier comparative, clammiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “clammy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

His palms went _____ before the interview.

Etymology

From Old English clǣman ("to smear, daub"); related to clam in the sense of something sticky.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for clammy

Pammy Sammy jammy mammy tammy gammy hammy whammy Grammy

See all rhymes for clammy →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “clammy” mean?

The word “clammy” means unpleasantly cold and damp to the touch, especially skin. In plain terms, cold, damp, and slightly sticky-feeling — often describing nervous sweat.

How do you pronounce “clammy”?

“Clammy” is pronounced KLA-mee (/ˈklæmi/ in IPA).

How do you use “clammy” in a sentence?

Here is “clammy” used in a sentence: “His palms went clammy before the interview.”

What part of speech is “clammy”?

“Clammy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “clammy” come from?

The word “clammy” comes from Old English. From Old English clǣman ("to smear, daub"); related to clam in the sense of something sticky.