as in jammed
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge
the car was hopelessly stuck in the mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in put
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
you can stick that box in the corner until I figure out where to put everything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in plucked
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stuck
Eric Noll, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026
On top of everything, California’s $4 trillion economy is more or less stuck in neutral, with the nation’s highest unemployment rate, no net job growth since the COVID-19 pandemic and severe employment cutbacks in signature sectors, such as film and TV production technology.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Massachusetts has seen a slight improvement in maintaining residents, but the Bay State remains stuck in the nation’s basement for one-way U-Haul customer transactions.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Despite her general confusion, the past stuck.
—Hazlitt, 7 Jan. 2026
Those changes and current divisions in Congress mean the nation’s food and agriculture policy may remain stuck in limbo for yet another year.
—Christopher Neubert, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
England wanted Bethell, but felt stuck with Pope.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Neighbors say that they're essentially stuck on an island surrounded by water and mud since the heavy downpour hit Southern California in late December.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Outfitted in antique furniture and family heirlooms, the rooms and common spaces appear comfortingly stuck in time.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Vulnerability, fragility, insanity, real innocence … but also confusion, depression, extreme hurt, anger … stuck in our heads.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Several people spoke of being stuck in elevators and showed CBS News New York unfinished repairs, such as a gaping hole in one resident's closet.
—Noelle Lilley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
This question has got stuck in my craw recently.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
The precise year escapes me, but the lesson stuck—the NBA was global.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 20 Jan. 2026
More broadly, the past performance myth keeps organizations stuck in the past.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
When stuck behind them, my heart rate speeds up as if compensating for the slow wheels.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
But there is a primal scream stuck in our collective throat.
—Phil Morris The Minnesota Star Tribune, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The embers are gone and the dust has settled a year later, but most of those houses are still vacant lots and families remain stuck in limbo.
—Eric Noll, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026
On top of everything, California’s $4 trillion economy is more or less stuck in neutral, with the nation’s highest unemployment rate, no net job growth since the COVID-19 pandemic and severe employment cutbacks in signature sectors, such as film and TV production technology.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Massachusetts has seen a slight improvement in maintaining residents, but the Bay State remains stuck in the nation’s basement for one-way U-Haul customer transactions.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Despite her general confusion, the past stuck.
—Hazlitt, 7 Jan. 2026
Those changes and current divisions in Congress mean the nation’s food and agriculture policy may remain stuck in limbo for yet another year.
—Christopher Neubert, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
England wanted Bethell, but felt stuck with Pope.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Neighbors say that they're essentially stuck on an island surrounded by water and mud since the heavy downpour hit Southern California in late December.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Outfitted in antique furniture and family heirlooms, the rooms and common spaces appear comfortingly stuck in time.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
Auntie Devi stuck her head out the window to catch the wind.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Vulnerability, fragility, insanity, real innocence … but also confusion, depression, extreme hurt, anger … stuck in our heads.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Several people spoke of being stuck in elevators and showed CBS News New York unfinished repairs, such as a gaping hole in one resident's closet.
—Noelle Lilley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
This question has got stuck in my craw recently.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
The precise year escapes me, but the lesson stuck—the NBA was global.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 20 Jan. 2026
More broadly, the past performance myth keeps organizations stuck in the past.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
When stuck behind them, my heart rate speeds up as if compensating for the slow wheels.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
But there is a primal scream stuck in our collective throat.
—Phil Morris The Minnesota Star Tribune, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuck
Adjective
-
While some vacuums notify you when there’s a clog, manually check after each deep clean by removing the brush roll to make sure nothing is jammed behind it.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
23 Dec. 2025
-
However, in environments like wildfires or disaster zones, their signals can be lost or jammed.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Higher Learning Commission recommended closure by late December 2025, and Martin adhered.—
Essence,
Essence,
13 Jan. 2026
-
With semi-precious stones, they are adhered with glue and the bond will wear down over time.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Gonzales said the situation in Minneapolis, with protesters attempting to interfere in federal immigration operations, has put the United States in an inflection point.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Ford expects to put the first few laps on its new Le Mans challenger in Q3, several months before the team’s maiden race in Qatar in March 2027.—
Jerry Perez,
The Drive,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Latour said Thompson first shot and then repeatedly stabbed James inside the family’s home in the Hedingham neighborhood.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The couple was strangled and stabbed to death, NBC News reported.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While Marty Supreme is only loosely inspired by Reisman, there are several sequences and character details plucked from his life.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Arsene Wenger was plucked from ‘Japan’, as Sir Alex Ferguson memorably enunciated it, in 1996.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This is a major step forward in Japan’s long and cautious return to nuclear power and comes as the country braces for tight electricity supplies ahead of the summer peak.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Those looking for an elevated alternative to loose sweatpants, restrictive jeans, and tight leggings will appreciate their lightweight and airy feel.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But where Smith believed unrealistically in talismanic lists and self-help books to redirect his life, Capote clung fiercely to his own brilliance and hard work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The night was warm and muggy over New Castle Air Force Base in Delaware, the kind of heat that clung to the metal skins of the alert fighter jets lined along the runway.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Spanning 100,000 square feet, it’s situated in Mumbai’s mill district, which was once the core of the textile industry.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The epicenter was situated approximately 5 miles west of Holtville, at a depth of 5 miles.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuck. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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