make stick

VERB

validate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

approve certify confirm corroborate endorse justify legalize legitimize ratify substantiate verify

STRONG

authenticate authorize constitute okay sanction

WEAK

John Hancock bear out give stamp of approval give the go-ahead give the green light give the nod make binding make legal rubber-stamp set seal on sign off on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

contradict deny disagree disallow disapprove discredit disprove invalidate oppose refuse reject repudiate veto

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

make stick

These charges, like past ones, could be hard to make stick.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

The cases of the week involving two-bit schemers and has-beens are easy enough to make stick.

From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2023

In both cases, the prosecutors pursued not the most serious charge, but the one they could most make stick.

From Slate ● Apr. 11, 2019

Then how is it that so many have found the charge so easy to make, and make stick?

From Time ● Oct. 31, 2016

That's the only threat they could make stick with a man like Tyler.

From Smugglers' Reef by John Blaine

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