1
as in predicaments
chiefly West
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
a wily dude who managed to get himself out of one jackpot after another
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of jackpots
Since launching in 1992, Powerball jackpots have been hit more than 400 times.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Seven Fantasy 5 tickets sold in California won $704,170 in jackpots from Monday, June 1, to Monday, June 8.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026
The Texas lottery is played by picking six numbers from one to 54 and offers multimillion-dollar jackpots, according to the lottery website.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
That game also recently switched formats, though sales have dropped about 24% in Massachusetts because jackpots have not been as high as expected.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 8 May 2026
According to the lottery, only four tickets matched all six Mega Millions numbers in 2024 – the fewest jackpots won in a calendar year since the game began in 2002.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Supermarket shoppers, one of whom got groceries in Pompano Beach, split one of Sunday’s Florida Lottery jackpots.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
January has proven to be a historically lucky month for Mega Millions players, with jackpots won in 19 of the past 23 Januaries since the game began in 2002.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
In comparison, 2023 had 10 jackpots won, the most in a single year since a major matrix change to the game in 2013.
—Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 25 Dec. 2024
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Seven Fantasy 5 tickets sold in California won $704,170 in jackpots from Monday, June 1, to Monday, June 8.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026
The Texas lottery is played by picking six numbers from one to 54 and offers multimillion-dollar jackpots, according to the lottery website.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
That game also recently switched formats, though sales have dropped about 24% in Massachusetts because jackpots have not been as high as expected.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 8 May 2026
According to the lottery, only four tickets matched all six Mega Millions numbers in 2024 – the fewest jackpots won in a calendar year since the game began in 2002.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Supermarket shoppers, one of whom got groceries in Pompano Beach, split one of Sunday’s Florida Lottery jackpots.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
January has proven to be a historically lucky month for Mega Millions players, with jackpots won in 19 of the past 23 Januaries since the game began in 2002.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
In comparison, 2023 had 10 jackpots won, the most in a single year since a major matrix change to the game in 2013.
—Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 25 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jackpots
Noun
-
Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each ticket costs $5, and players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
-
The predictable result is that hourly workers and lower-income residents seek hardship exemptions, fail to appear or struggle to comply with summonses altogether, while jury pools increasingly skew toward retirees and salaried workers who can more easily absorb the cost.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Other condiments that can be stored in the door compartments include pickles, olives, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, jam, peanut butter, and sauces like hot sauce.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
-
Note that pickles made with a salt brine, like Martha's Sour Pickles, are fermented foods, while those made quickly with vinegar are not.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Investigators determined John Parker Roe derived a substantial portion of his income (over 50%) from the organization and that Collins used her business, Lume Lume Lume, to conceal funds disguised as consulting or wellness services.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
Iran insists on retaining a degree of control over the waterway and gaining immediate access to its frozen funds, while negotiations over the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment would take place after the interim deal is signed.—
Arsalan Shahla,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Lead executives Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer will be dealing with far more pressing dilemmas on draft night and in the days that follow, but they’re also tasked with using the low-value pick to locate someone who can help Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets win immediately.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
-
The regulation of our environment; the presence of chemicals both intentionally and unwittingly in our food, water, air, and land; the ecological fate of all living creatures, and of the earth itself—all these dilemmas and conundrums find urgent expression in Carson’s work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
After making par on each of the first nine holes, Lopez made her move on the back with four birdies.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Of the more than 40 million annual visitors to the state, about a quarter seek outdoor recreation, including fishing at the state’s extensive network of fishing holes—rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi, as well as more than 2,700 lakes—meaning a stop at Bass Pro is almost always in order.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Its disaster response fleet includes boats, barges and helicopters that can transport team members and equipment through hard-to-reach areas including swamps and mountains after a disaster, according to Shannon Browning, the associate director of AT&T's Network Disaster Recovery team.—
Ayana Archie,
NPR,
4 June 2026
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Little creeks meandered from lake to lake and through patches of lush grassy meadows and swamps, while the trail followed the higher ground covered with spruce.—
Anton Money,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jackpots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackpots. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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