Viscoushaving a thick consistency and moving slowly describes a liquid or substance that is thick and slow to flow. In some contexts, it can also mean sticky or glue-likelike adhesive; able to stick to surfaces, but the main everyday idea is thickness and resistanceopposition that makes movement or change harder to flowing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈvɪskəs/
Easy pronunciation: VIS-kuss (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: VIS-kuss.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Viscous Meaning
thick and slow to pour or move
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: having a relatively high resistance to flow
Example: The sauce became more viscous as it cooled.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- syrupy — A close substitute when describing a thick liquid or texture.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Viscous
Meaning 2
sticky and glue-like
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: having the sticky properties of an adhesive
Example: The resin left a viscous film on the tool.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- gluey — Works for something that feels like glue.
- glutinous — Can mean sticky, though it is less common in everyday use.
- gummy — Works well for something sticky or tacky.
- mucilaginous — A technical term for a slimy or sticky texture.
- pasty — Can fit a thick, sticky consistency, but is less exact.
- sticky — A direct everyday substitute when the emphasis is on adhesion.
- viscid — A near synonym, though more technical and less common.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Viscous Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- syrupy
sticky or glue-like
- gluey
- glutinous
- gummy
- mucilaginous
- pasty
- sticky
- viscid
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using viscous to mean simply 'gross' or 'slimy' without the idea of thickness or stickiness.
- Mixing up viscous with 'vicious,' which means cruel or violent.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does viscous mean?
Viscous means thick and resistant to flowing, like syrup, honey, or engine oil in cold weather.
What is a simple synonym for viscous?
A simple synonym is syrupy, especially when you mean thick and slow-moving.
Is viscous the same as sticky?
Not exactly. Viscous mainly means thick and slow to flow, while sticky means it clings or adheres. Some substances can be both.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
