as in countryside
the open rural area outside of big towns and cities
grew up in the sticks and is used to traveling miles just to get a loaf of bread
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in puts
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stabs
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it
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4
as in plucks
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sticks
Dana Santas, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Let’s hope the finale sticks the landing.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
Continue to beat on medium speed until dough is elastic, tacky, and pulls away cleanly from sides but still sticks slightly to bottom of bowl, about 5 minutes longer.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
Many traditional litters either clump too softly or clump while gradually turning into dusty sludge that sticks and smells over time.
—Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
When the camera is rolling, Bales cuts into a slab of Butterkäse cheese (a mild, German cheese) with a spoon rather than a knife, sticks it in the middle of the potato and bites in.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Free People sticks the landing on this festival aesthetic, with its overly oversized sweaters, slouchy jeans (like the viral We the Free Good Luck Mid-Rise), tees that slide off the shoulder, fringed jackets, and dreamy dresses.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 12 Dec. 2025
Still, the best pack for rucking, a solid route, smart accessories, and a few programming considerations can be the difference between a fad and a healthy habit that sticks.
—Ian Graber-Stiehl, Outside, 5 Dec. 2025
An agent sticks his arm through and pepper sprays me in the face.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
Research in habit formation consistently shows that behavior sticks when it is tied to context cues, environment and routine rather than motivation alone.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticks
Verb
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Painting indoors during the winter can be a productive way to refresh your space, but temperature and indoor conditions play a major role in how well the paint adheres and dries.—
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Based on a true story, the novel adheres remarkably to the facts.—
Verb
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The driver then puts vehicle in drive, dragging officer about 100 yards with his arm inside the car.—
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Tonga has missed the past three games, which puts his availability for Sunday’s Wild Card showdown with the Chargers in significant doubt.—
Verb
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The suspect pounces on Ennin while the victim is down and stabs him multiple times before running off.—
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After Fiona confesses to killing Willem, a raging Constance stabs Dahlia.—
Verb
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Suddenly, Jeff Parker plucks a sighing six-note guitar run, dropping his shoulders into a solo section that carries the tune to its swooning conclusion.—
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As Natalie walks away from Shayne, possibly for good, and as Venus and some entity named Gabby lunge for each other, Katie Maloney Schwartz Maloney plucks out her earbuds, pulls her sunglasses off her cunty little bob, closes her copy of The Shards, and packs up her bag.—
Verb
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Cherry Blossoms • Monique’s picking up on the intensity with which Angel clings to her identity as an NFL wife was genuinely insightful and has the potential to be a real breakthrough moment for Angel in what has been a very fraught season for her.—
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Furthermore, the editorial clings to an outdated vision of the Loop as solely a 9-to-5 business district.—
Verb
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Brands latest portrait follows Washington from early life through his maturation as a general and leader, and situates the first president among his many allies and rivals.—
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Dante situates it on a mountain rising out of an empty sea.—
Verb
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The robot picks unsorted bearing rings and places them onto a buffer table.—
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Our top picks start at $16, with some even on sale, too.—
Verb
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As the moon follows an elliptical path, Saturn’s gravity stretches and squeezes it.—
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View gallery - 12 images This recently completed tiny house squeezes a lot of living space into a compact footprint using clever design.—
Cite this Entry
“Sticks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticks. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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