adj
tacky
TA-kee
adj
1
Cheap-looking, gaudy, or in poor taste.
"The souvenir shop was full of tacky plastic keychains."
"She thought the neon sign looked tacky outside such an elegant restaurant."
2
Slightly sticky to the touch, as paint or glue that has not fully dried.
"Check that the varnish is no longer tacky before adding another coat."
How to Use Tacky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither cheap and tasteless, or slightly sticky depending on context.
Common pairings
tacky decorations
still tacky to the touch
tacky souvenirs
Word Forms
tackier comparative, tackier comparative, tackiest superlative, tackiest superlative
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The souvenir shop was full of _____ plastic keychains.
Etymology
From "tack" (in the sense of stickiness) plus the adjective ending "-y."