What does sticklike mean?
Sticklike is an adjective meaning that something resembles a stick, particularly in being long, narrow, and rigid. The comparison is often literal, as when it describes the shape of an animal's legs, a plant stem, a piece of furniture, or an angular human figure. It can also convey a slightly austere or exaggerated impression: a sticklike silhouette appears spare and inflexible, while a sticklike tower or column suggests height and narrowness. The word is most useful when shape is the central feature and when a more general term such as thin would not capture the comparison precisely. Its construction is transparent, combining the familiar noun stick with the adjective-forming suffix -like. Although not especially common in everyday speech, sticklike is widely understood and can give descriptions a vivid, economical visual quality. It appears in British and American English and is not restricted to a particular regional vocabulary.
adjectiveResembling a stick in shape, especially being long, narrow, and rigid.
- Resembling a stick in shape, especially in being long, narrow, and rigid.
"The insect's sticklike body was almost invisible against the twig."
"The bird's sticklike legs allowed it to balance among the reeds."
"Her sticklike figure made the narrow doorway seem even more imposing."
‘Sticklike’ compresses a familiar comparison into two syllables: something sticklike is immediately imagined as long, narrow, and rigid.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sticklike
Sticklike is an English compound formed from stick and the suffix-like, meaning ‘resembling.’ The word stick has Germanic roots and is related to forms such as Dutch stok and German Stock. The adjective like descends from Old English gelīc, meaning ‘similar’ or ‘alike,’ and has cognates including Dutch gelijk and German gleich.
How sticklike is actually used
This is a standard but relatively uncommon descriptive adjective. It is especially useful for objects, plants, animals, or figures that are conspicuously long and narrow; when describing a person's body, it may sound somewhat blunt or literary.
Easily confused with sticklike
Sticklike describes something that resembles a stick in shape, whereas sticky means that something adheres to a surface.