as in dilemma
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
with both sets of in-laws insisting that we spend Thanksgiving with them, we were on a sticky wicket indeed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of sticky wicket
Of philosophy’s many sticky wickets, consciousness is perhaps the most perplexing.
—
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
To that, timestamps may prove a sticky wicket for a part of Baldoni’s argument against the Times.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
The other sticky wicket in the Paramount-Skydance merger is Trump’s current lawsuit against CBS News.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
That third spot is a sticky wicket for a team projected to be just outside the top five in the game.
—Eno Sarris, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK published 18 September 2024
A cricketing powerhouse for decades, Pakistan's national team have suddenly found themselves on a sticky wicket.
—Harriet Marsden, theweek, 18 Sep. 2024
Much of its lexicon sounds both unapproachable and, well, just weird: sticky wicket, googly, yorker, jaffa, daisy cutter, silly mid off, maiden over, tickle, nurdle, trundler, paddle scoop, popping crease, golden duck.
—Chris Heath, The Atlantic, 25 July 2024
While reforms have been proposed in the past under other leaders, they have gotten caught up in a sticky wicket of state bureaucracy.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2024
The situation is a sticky wicket, to use an old-fashioned term from the sport of cricket, for the countless interest groups that depend on money from the budget.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 4 May 2024
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
To that, timestamps may prove a sticky wicket for a part of Baldoni’s argument against the Times.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
The other sticky wicket in the Paramount-Skydance merger is Trump’s current lawsuit against CBS News.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
That third spot is a sticky wicket for a team projected to be just outside the top five in the game.
—Eno Sarris, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK published 18 September 2024
A cricketing powerhouse for decades, Pakistan's national team have suddenly found themselves on a sticky wicket.
—Harriet Marsden, theweek, 18 Sep. 2024
Much of its lexicon sounds both unapproachable and, well, just weird: sticky wicket, googly, yorker, jaffa, daisy cutter, silly mid off, maiden over, tickle, nurdle, trundler, paddle scoop, popping crease, golden duck.
—Chris Heath, The Atlantic, 25 July 2024
While reforms have been proposed in the past under other leaders, they have gotten caught up in a sticky wicket of state bureaucracy.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2024
The situation is a sticky wicket, to use an old-fashioned term from the sport of cricket, for the countless interest groups that depend on money from the budget.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 4 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky wicket
Noun
-
For mid-market companies, this shift presents a dilemma.—
Richard Ricks,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Wrestling over a decade with those rich character dilemmas got Vanderbilt an incredible roster of actors who here work at the height of their game.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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With the bullish determination of Ed and the wide-eyed second sight of Lorraine, the Warrens’ only child sells a clear vision of right and wrong when news of the Smurls’ predicament comes their way.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
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To that end, Johnson and the CTU’s Springfield strategy has been at the forefront of all their public messaging on how the school district gets out of this fiscal predicament.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Not all that long ago Cadillac was in a pickle.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Dill is an easy herb to grow and its unique anise flavor complements salads and meats and adds tang to a jar of pickles.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On the 18th hole of the final match, Nicklaus sank his par putt and then conceded Tony Jacklin’s short par putt, ensuring both the match and the Ryder Cup ended in a tie.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
My only shot was through a hole the size of a business card between some limbs.—
Jack Atcheson Sr. as told to Michael Hanback,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Schubkegel said her own decision to leave the workforce put her family in a financial bind.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
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The flag movement has put the government in an awkward bind.—
Olivia Kemp,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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If your behavior has changed, really go down that rabbit hole and investigate what’s going on with your hormones.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
11 Sep. 2025
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The crime comedy focuses on siblings Megan and Nathan who discover a dead body, long buried in their parents’ basement, sending them down a rabbit hole of crime and murder.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even checking email felt like wading into a swamp.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That just happened to coincide with a deluge of rain, enough to flood streets in downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale, swamp some cars and send manhole covers and drains bubbling up with excess rainwater.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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