as in pickles
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sticky wickets
Of philosophy’s many sticky wickets, consciousness is perhaps the most perplexing.
—
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky wickets
Noun
-
Avoid an acid overload of tart and tangy (pickles and citrus), a bold flavor competition, sweet and funky flavors colliding (fruity jams and aged cheeses), and a clash of spicy meats and cheeses with delicate fruits and accompaniments.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Eggs, pickles, pimientos, and plenty of Yukon golds are the heroes of this praise-worthy potato salad.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The dilemmas of post-revolutionary life—in particular, the gap between fulsome propaganda and flawed realities—were efficiently captured, as usual, in the popular genre known as the anekdot.—
Benjamin Nathans
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
-
In the plot, a fictional president of Italy faces moral and ethical dilemmas.—
Marcelo Cajueiro,
Variety,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Pakistan Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said his nation was hoping for more of a consensus going into Tuesday’s vote given the funding predicaments and operational issues that have dogged the MSS.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Is River in desperate need of some R&R, or is everyone else projecting their own predicaments onto him?—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The fit also seemed perfect for both sides, as the Eagles were seeking to fill any holes on the defensive lines.—
Cameron Belcher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Inside the old asylum, plaster peeled from mottled walls and holes gaped in the ceiling.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These mammals are found across North America, residing in every kind of habitat from hardwood forests to coastal plains to swamps.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
-
As their name suggests, annual killifish appear for a brief period of the year in floodplains, wetlands, swamps and other temporary aquatic environments.—
Lauren Liebhaber
September 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In Singapore 2023, Williams driver Logan Sargeant retired from the race due to the extreme conditions, while Lance Stroll collapsed by his car after the race, near blacking out in high-speed corners.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Look closely near the corners or edges of the frame for a blurry patch, smeared light, or a soft square that looks slightly out of focus — that’s where the watermark used to be.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wickets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wickets. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share