become/come unstuck
idiom
1
: to stop being stuck to something
The suction cup came unstuck from the wall.
2
British, informal
: to fail
Their marriage came unstuck last summer.
Examples of become/come unstuck in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cincinnati housing market tilting in buyers' favor in 2025
As inventory levels continue to come unstuck and mortgage rates dip, more home sellers in the Cincinnati area may be forced to negotiate sales prices and offer incentives because buyers will have more options.
—
Randy Tucker, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
At some point, whatever is bottling up the Mets’ offense will come unstuck and the runs will come.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
And in time, America’s demography and its political coalitions could change in ways that might help our politics come unstuck.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024
On the other, the Italian’s dogmatic approach meant that Leicester did come unstuck on a few occasions — which almost derailed a title charge that looked to be in the bag earlier in the season.
—Mark Carey, The Athletic, 11 Aug. 2024
Unstuck focuses on academic stress, unhealthy relationships, and finding a way to become unstuck.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
Leaders who attempt to rapidly expand their empire can quickly come unstuck.
—Barry Collins, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
Even so there have been plenty of more recent instances where US nationals have come unstuck in North Korea or been held in custody, sometimes for long periods of time as US officials try to secure their release and Pyongyang looks to extract concessions.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 19 July 2023
Photograph: Acer This laptop also performs in the noise department, where many gaming laptops can often come unstuck.
—Adam Speight, WIRED, 19 Sep. 2022
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Randy Tucker, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
At some point, whatever is bottling up the Mets’ offense will come unstuck and the runs will come.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
And in time, America’s demography and its political coalitions could change in ways that might help our politics come unstuck.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024
On the other, the Italian’s dogmatic approach meant that Leicester did come unstuck on a few occasions — which almost derailed a title charge that looked to be in the bag earlier in the season.
—Mark Carey, The Athletic, 11 Aug. 2024
Unstuck focuses on academic stress, unhealthy relationships, and finding a way to become unstuck.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
Leaders who attempt to rapidly expand their empire can quickly come unstuck.
—Barry Collins, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
Even so there have been plenty of more recent instances where US nationals have come unstuck in North Korea or been held in custody, sometimes for long periods of time as US officials try to secure their release and Pyongyang looks to extract concessions.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 19 July 2023
Photograph: Acer This laptop also performs in the noise department, where many gaming laptops can often come unstuck.
—Adam Speight, WIRED, 19 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Become/come unstuck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/become%2Fcome%20unstuck. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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