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
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Recent Examples of sticky wicket
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky wicket
Noun
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This poses a dilemma since water that is applied rolls down the sides of the container without soaking the soil.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
19 June 2025
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Thus far, India has escaped this dilemma because successive U.S. presidential administrations have deliberately overlooked these dalliances.—
ASHLEY J. TELLIS,
Foreign Affairs,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
Christopher Boyle of New York County Defender Services and one of Bernier’s lawyers said anecdotally there are many others on Rikers Island in a similar predicament.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
-
Rodriguez discussed Rose's predicament in an interview on New York City's WFAN radio last week, and made a startling claim about baseball's all-time hits leader.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
In addition to sauces, Pickled Prince sells pickles, giardiniera and kimchi at farmers markets, alongside a funky-looking pickle mascot.—
Ahmed Ali Akbar,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2025
-
Add 1 tablespoon of the simple syrup and pickle brine.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 June 2025
Noun
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The venue’s sixth hole is a demanding 574 yards, though the back nine eases up with two par-3 offerings.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
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Ma and other technology experts have long contended that artificial intelligence could play a role in helping retailers patch holes in their supply chains.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
17 June 2025
Noun
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Advertisement That confluence of tricky politics has left a lot of D.C.’s political class in a bind.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
23 June 2025
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Here, Malaysia’s efforts revealed the bind of ethical leadership in a realist system.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
That sent me spiraling into another Google rabbit hole.—
Kelli Acciardo,
Allure,
24 June 2025
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But that immediate attraction to her gross-out humor led him and others down a rabbit hole of material she’s cultivated for years.—
Nate Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Habitats can change, too; should someone drain that Sudbury shrub swamp, the Appalachian Brown would disappear.—
Lewis Hyde,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
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This prehistoric swamp will enchant you even before the mind-melting sunset begins.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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