STICK Synonyms: 219 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'stick' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stick are adhere , cleave , cling , and cohere . While all these words mean "to become closely attached," stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. // couldn't get the label to stick

Q: When would 'adhere' be a good substitute for 'stick'?

While in some cases nearly identical to stick , adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together. // antibodies adhering to a virus

Q: When is 'cleave' a more appropriate choice than 'stick'?

While the synonyms cleave and stick are close in meaning, cleave stresses strength of attachment. // the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Q: In what contexts can 'cling' take the place of 'stick'?

The meanings of cling and stick largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils. // clinging to a capsized boat

Q: When might 'cohere' be a better fit than 'stick'?

In some situations, the words cohere and stick are roughly equivalent. However, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass. // eggs will make the mixture cohere

stick 1 of 2

verb

Definition of stick

as in to adhere

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion those magnets are strong enough to stick to the refrigerator without any problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to put

to arrange something in a certain spot or position you can stick that box in the corner until I figure out where to put everything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stab

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to squeeze

to rob by the use of trickery or threats she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site

Synonyms & Similar Words

stick

2 of 2

noun

as in finger

Related Words

as in clam

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in beam

Related Words

as in stab

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb stick contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stick are adhere, cleave, cling, and cohere. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

When would adhere be a good substitute for stick?

While in some cases nearly identical to stick, adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

When is cleave a more appropriate choice than stick?

While the synonyms cleave and stick are close in meaning, cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

In what contexts can cling take the place of stick?

The meanings of cling and stick largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When might cohere be a better fit than stick?

In some situations, the words cohere and stick are roughly equivalent. However, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of stick

Verb

Prosecutors said Lefman repeatedly stuck his hand between the seat in front of him to touch the girl through her clothing. — Gustavo Atencio Flores, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Along with being a calf-sticking impostor, Conrad, according to Hemingway, was a malicious defamer. — Stephen Bates, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026

Noun

What guests actually remember about a watch party The hosting details that stick are the ones easiest to forget. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 Nashville was awarded the penalty shot when Binnington was determined to have thrown his stick during play. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stick

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stick

Verb

As such, the press is not allowed to publish details that might lead to any of the accusers being identified, and coverage of the trial will adhere strictly to what happens in court.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Top with reserved hazelnuts and press in gently to adhere (surface will be smothered with nuts).

— Tanya Bush, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of adhere

Verb

After the break, Colleyville Heritage wide receiver Trevi Preische’s 10-yard TD reception helped the Panthers make some progress, but a 23-yard score from Caldwell put Argyle’s lead back to three-scores.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Congress answered with the Air Commerce Act of 1926, which put the Commerce Department in charge of commercial flight.

— Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of put

Verb

For Crystal, this occurred at the end of 2025, his annus horribilis, when Reiner and wife Michelle were found stabbed to death at their Brentwood home.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The teen accused of fatally stabbing a homeless Roseville woman faced a judge and the woman’s family Tuesday during his first court appearance in the slaying.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of stab

Noun

First, finger sticks are far more painful than routine venipuncture.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
His raspy voice, his beard, his missing finger and the cadence of his speech have been fixtures of Brazilian public life since Brazil’s first direct presidential election after the dictatorship ended in 1985.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of finger

Noun

Blue crabs and crawfish are sourced from Louisiana, while shellfish such as oysters, Manila clams and cherrystone clams arrive from waters stretching from the East Coast to Asia.

— Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Unlike the traditional baked dish of littlenecks stuffed with bacon and breadcrumbs, Jimmy’s version comes as a bowl of thumbnail-sized Manila clams tossed with guanciale, compound butter and breadcrumbs.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of clam

Noun

By changing its flight attitude, the platform could redirect the radar beam toward different sectors without depending entirely on a mechanically rotating antenna.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
In work that would delight any Star Wars fan, scientists have now created an antenna from a plasma beam.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of beam

Noun

The latest push to end the practice began in June after an 18-year-old Indian tourist, Romanch Mahajan, died after jumping from a runaway carriage.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Trump’s push to rename geographic landmarks began on his first day back in office.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of push

Browse Nearby Words

stews

stick

stick around

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“Stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of stick

verb

noun

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Synonyms of stick

verb

noun

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Phrases Containing stick

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Cite this Entry

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