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
-
The dilemma about his son provides the bare minimum of drama to chew on, allowing Dexter’s focus to shift toward playful topics like his new cold-blooded buddies and the peculiar nature of his new playground, New York City.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 July 2025
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This case involving the MyPillow lawyers is just a microcosm of the growing dilemma of how courts and lawyers can strike the balance between welcoming life-changing technology and using it responsibly in court.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Considering its financial predicament and wealth of center backs, Barca could be tempted to sell the South American warhorse if a European rival tables his asking price.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
-
But by making plain that the students were a token in his trade war, Trump only increased the uncertainty of their predicament.—
Lavender Au,
The Atlantic,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
The vinegar used to quick pickle the onions also adds a vinegary pungency to the salad, and dill and basil work together to add fresh and herbaceous notes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
-
Some foods and drinks high in electrolytes include watermelon, coconut water, leafy green vegetables, bone broth, pickles, and more.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Toronto has plenty of holes in the roster to add talent.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
-
It's rumored that there are 18 holes on a course because there are 18 shots in a bottle of scotch.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The commissioners’ 2024 decision to freeze property tax revenues left government departments in a bind this year, resulting in sweeping cuts to public services.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
17 July 2025
-
If landlords refuse, however, tenants are in a bind.—
Gabriel L. Schwartz,
The Conversation,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Lawrence — not only an author but the facilities manager for the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum — started running down a distinctly Canadian rabbit hole a decade ago.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
-
There are so many facets to filmmaking, and filmmaking books can lead to falling down overly comprehensive rabbit holes.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Trump joked about the dangers of the swamp, the Florida GOP is selling hats and t-shirts bearing the facility’s name, and one of the president’s advisors implied that all U.S. Latinos should be fed to alligators.—
Time,
Time,
17 July 2025
-
In the final stories of Mother to Men, Sodality reckons with the council’s refusal to deal with a swamp full of brackish water that is causing typhus: the council says that the expense outweighs any potential gain.—
Deborah Williams
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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