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Hacky vs Tacky - What's the difference?

hacky | tacky |

In colloquial terms the difference between hacky and tacky

is that hacky is short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacking while tacky is in poor taste.

As adjectives the difference between hacky and tacky

is that hacky is like a hack; amateurish while tacky is of a substance, slightly sticky.

hacky

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Like a hack; amateurish.
  • (Geordie) Filthy or totally dirty.
  • (computing, informal) Using, or characterised by, hacks: poorly designed workarounds.
  • (colloquial) Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacking.
    • A hacky''' cough. A '''hacky''' laugh. A '''hacky''' breath. A '''hacky howl.

    Derived terms

    * hackily

    Related terms

    * dirty (Standard English ) * dorty (Geordie) * hacky dorty (Geordie) * unclean (Standard English )

    References

    * * * * “ hacky” at Wordnik (Forwards to “hacking”, where “hacky” is listed.)

    tacky

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Of a substance, slightly sticky.
    • This paint isn't dry yet - it's still a bit tacky.
  • (colloquial) Of low quality.
    • That market stall sells all sorts of tacky ornaments.
  • (colloquial) In poor taste.
    • That was a tacky thing to say.
  • gaudy, flashy, showy, garish
  • dowdy, shabbily dressed
  • shabby, dowdy (in one's appearance)