What does thickish mean?
Thickish is an informal adjective meaning somewhat thick or moderately thick. It is useful when a stronger word such as thick would overstate the degree, while a weaker expression such as slightly thick might suggest that the difference is almost unnoticeable. Typical uses include describing the consistency of food, the density of a material, the thickness of a layer, or the manner of speech. The word has a gentle, conversational quality and is common in both British and American English, though it is more characteristic of everyday speech than formal writing. Its formation is straightforward: the older word thick is combined with the suffix -ish, which gives adjectives such as reddish or childish the sense of being somewhat like the base word. In the case of thickish, the result is a useful middle-ground term for degrees of thickness.
adjectiveSomewhat thick; moderately thick. It describes something that is noticeably thicker or denser than expected without implying that it is extremely thick.
- Somewhat thick; moderately thick.
"The sauce had a thickish consistency that made it especially good on toast."
"A thickish layer of snow covered the garden by morning."
"He spoke with a thickish accent, but his meaning was clear."
A modest but useful word for describing something thicker than light, but not quite thick enough to make a grand claim.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thickish come from?
Thickish is a modern English formation combining thick with the suffix -ish, meaning somewhat or moderately. The element thick descends from Old English þicce, and related forms such as thicket and thickness belong to the same Germanic root. The suffix -ish has long been used in English to form descriptive adjectives, including words such as blackish and greenish.
How thickish is actually used
Informal and generally neutral. It is especially common for textures, layers, speech, and other qualities that can be described as moderately or somewhat pronounced.