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Viscous: meaning, pronunciation and examples

Viscous adjective. Thick and sticky, so that it flows only slowly.

How to say it

VIS-kus/ˈvɪskəs/

2 syllables, stressed on the first (VIS).

Viscous in a sentence

Cold honey is so viscous it barely leaves the spoon.

The paint turned viscous in the frost and dragged across the fence.

Similar and opposite

Similar:

  • thick
  • gooey
  • syrupy
  • gluey

Opposite:

  • runny
  • thin
  • fluid

Where viscous comes from

From late Latin viscosus, from viscum, birdlime made from mistletoe.

Test yourself

Which word fills the gap?

The paint turned _____ in the frost and dragged across the fence.

  • latent
  • viscous
  • discrete
Show the answer

viscous: The paint turned viscous in the frost and dragged across the fence.