adjective

icky

IH-kee

Icky (adjective) means Unpleasantly sticky, slimy, or disgusting. Example: “There was something icky stuck to the bottom of the seat.”

adjective

Unpleasantly sticky, slimy, or disgusting.

"There was something icky stuck to the bottom of the seat."

"The soup turned an icky grey colour after sitting out overnight."

Overly sentimental or emotionally cloying.

"The film's ending was a bit icky, with everyone hugging and crying."

How to use icky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGross or unpleasant to touch or think about — or, for a story/film, over-the-top sappy.

When to use it

Casual, often used by or around children, but common in adult informal speech too.

Word forms

ickier comparative, ickiest superlative

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Fill the gap

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There was something _____ stuck to the bottom of the seat.

Etymology

From 1930s American slang, likely a baby-talk form of "sick" filtered through the earlier term "icky-boo".

· First attested 1930

Class of 1930 icky joined the language around 1930.

biro blowjob crumpet dink doodle

See the full Class of 1930 →

Rhymes for icky

picky Ricky Nicky Vicky Dicky Micky tricky sticky chicky finicky panicky

See all rhymes for icky →

Frequently asked questions

What does “icky” mean?

The word “icky” means unpleasantly sticky, slimy, or disgusting. In plain terms, gross or unpleasant to touch or think about — or, for a story/film, over-the-top sappy.

How do you pronounce “icky”?

“Icky” is pronounced IH-kee (/ˈɪki/ in IPA).

How do you use “icky” in a sentence?

Here is “icky” used in a sentence: “There was something icky stuck to the bottom of the seat.”

What part of speech is “icky”?

“Icky” is an adjective.

Where does the word “icky” come from?

The word “icky” dates back to around 1930. From 1930s American slang, likely a baby-talk form of "sick" filtered through the earlier term "icky-boo".

How many meanings does “icky” have?

“Icky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unpleasantly sticky, slimy, or disgusting.