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
Relevance
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sticky wicket
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
In contrast, altering and editing an image can be a much more nuanced process that makes determining what part is from humans a sticky wicket.
—Drew McLellan, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
As with all questions of volcanic behaviour, the real sticky wicket is timing.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2023
Ant Group are currently on a sticky wicket.
—Prathamesh Mulye, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2021
What is a sticky wicket is when partner is subordinate to the other.
—Jenna Reyes, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
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
In contrast, altering and editing an image can be a much more nuanced process that makes determining what part is from humans a sticky wicket.
—Drew McLellan, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
As with all questions of volcanic behaviour, the real sticky wicket is timing.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2023
Ant Group are currently on a sticky wicket.
—Prathamesh Mulye, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2021
What is a sticky wicket is when partner is subordinate to the other.
—Jenna Reyes, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky wicket
Noun
-
The dilemmas also extended to post-production, as Scott’s initial cut was nearly four hours long.Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2024
-
The dilemma for China now is that its sizable trade surplus with the US means any direct countermeasures may have limited impact.Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Asia, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Hostin then helped Behar settle into her chair, as Goldberg maneuvered out of the predicament by distracting the cohosts with treats, as celebrity chef Bobby Flay made his way to the table with Thanksgiving snacks, and the show soldiered on without a hitch.EW.com, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2024
-
Toni Cranston was at the repair shop and overheard their predicament.Autumn Barnes, NPR, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The McRib sandwich is made with boneless barbecue pork ribs smothered in a tangy sauce and topped with onions and pickles.Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
-
Burger King Will Sell an Advent Calendar with 12 Nostalgic Gifts for $19.54 Earlier this week, the home of the Whopper announced a new menu item: pickle fries.Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
This manual process is ridden with security holes and manual mistakes.Manosiz Bhattacharyya, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
-
After stitching the sac, the surgeon may also use stitches or mesh to close a hole in the abdominal wall (called a hernia repair).19 Varicocele repair (varicocelectomy) involves an incision in the groin or lower abdomen to access the varicocele.Josephine Hessert, Verywell Health, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
His massive contract — and its salary cap ramifications — has put the Browns in a bind in terms of improving their roster.Chantz Martin, Fox News, 7 Dec. 2024
-
The machinists’ decision to reject a new contract that offered a 25% raise will put the planemaker in a serious bind.Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 16 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
Even then, the results sent her down another rabbit hole.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2024
-
Still, as Luna squares brainy Mercury at 3:10 pm EST, falling down a rabbit hole of analysis isn’t healthy either.Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The Daily Mail moreover published photos which purported to show DeGeneres’s property left in a swamp of flood water.Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024
-
On a trek through the forest, Nora’s guide signalled for the group to stop near the bank of a swamp.Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near sticky wicket
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share