adjective
tack′i·er, tack′i·est sticky: said as of varnish before it is fully dry
Origin of tacky
tack (noun) + -y
adjective
- A really ugly, gaudy and poorly decorated house is an example of something that would be described as tacky.
- Sticky paint that isn't yet dry is an example of something that would be described as tacky.
The definition of tacky is something tasteless and overdone, or something that is still sticky.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"tacky." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Tacky>.
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tacky. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Tacky
tacky
adjective
tack′i·er, tack′i·est- dowdy or shabby, as in dress or appearance
- in poor taste; inelegant
Origin of tacky
from tacky, hillbilly from uncertain or unknown; perhapsWebster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"tacky." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Tacky>.
APA Style
tacky. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Tacky
tacky
adjective
tack·i·er, tack·i·estSlightly adhesive or gummy to the touch; sticky.
Origin of tacky
From tack 1Related Forms:
- tack′i·ness
noun
adjective
tack·i·er, tack·i·est Informal- a. Lacking style or good taste; tawdry: tacky clothes.b. Distasteful or offensive; tasteless: a tacky remark.
- Flimsy, rundown, or in poor repair: “a tacky room he could tear apart with his bare hands” ( John Edgar Wideman )
Origin of tacky
From tackey an inferior horseRelated Forms:
- tack′i·ly
adverb
- tack′i·ness
noun
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"tacky." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Tacky>.
APA Style
tacky. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Tacky
Adjective
(comparative tackier, superlative tackiest)
- Of a substance, slightly sticky.
- This paint isn't dry yet - it's still a bit tacky.
- (colloquial) Of low quality.
- That market stall sells all sorts of tacky ornaments.
- (colloquial) In poor taste.
- That was a tacky thing to say.
- gaudy, flashy, showy, garish
- dowdy, shabbily dressed
- shabby, dowdy (in one's appearance)
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"tacky." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Tacky>.
APA Style
tacky. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Tacky
Sentence Examples
- Some shampoos are self-rinsing, which means they require no water rinse and will dry without feeling tacky, and there are even dry shampoos in powder form that can provide a quick refresher between full baths.
- It's very important that you make sure the animated image you're using as a background image isn't terribly distracting or tacky, no matter where on your web page you decide to place it or how large it is.
- When you see someone walking down the street wearing pink flamingo sunglasses, they are making a fashion statement that screams, "These may be outrageously tacky - but I still look absolutely fabulous!"
- While some people appreciate the convenience of knowing if the bride has registered for gifts at a specific store, others find including registry information on the invitation to be quite tacky.
- Generally, including information about engagement gifts or registries may be considered tacky but it is up to the preferences of the families and their customs whether to include this or not.
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