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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishCold, damp, and slightly sticky-feeling — often describing nervous sweat.
Common pairings
clammy hands
clammy skin
cold and clammy
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Word forms
- Comparative
- clammier
- Superlative
- clammiest
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His palms went _____ before the interview.
Etymology
From Old English clǣman ("to smear, daub"); related to clam in the sense of something sticky.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for clammy
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.
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