adj
C2
Proficient
rickety
RIHK-ih-tee
Rickety (adj) means Weak, shaky, or unstable, typically because of poor construction or age. Example: “The rickety old bridge creaked with every step.”
adj
1
Weak, shaky, or unstable, typically because of poor construction or age.
"The rickety old bridge creaked with every step."
"We sat on a rickety wooden bench outside the shop."
How to use rickety
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWobbly and unstable, like something about to fall apart.
Common pairings
rickety chair
rickety staircase
rickety old fence
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Word forms
- Comparative
- ricketier, more rickety
- Superlative
- ricketiest, most rickety
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ old bridge creaked with every step.
Etymology
Probably from a dialect word "ricket" meaning unstable, possibly influenced by the word rickets.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for rickety
See all rhymes for rickety →Frequently asked questions
What does “rickety” mean?
The word “rickety” means weak, shaky, or unstable, typically because of poor construction or age. In plain terms, wobbly and unstable, like something about to fall apart.
How do you pronounce “rickety”?
“Rickety” is pronounced RIHK-ih-tee (/ˈɹɪk.ɪ.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “rickety” in a sentence?
Here is “rickety” used in a sentence: “The rickety old bridge creaked with every step.”
What is another word for “rickety”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rickety” include bockety, bone-shaking, craichy, cranky, creaky and creaking.
What is the opposite of “rickety”?
The opposite of “rickety” — its antonyms — are firm, resilient, robust, rugged and safe.
What part of speech is “rickety”?
“Rickety” is an adjective.
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