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
-
There’s also the Chicken Sammy for $13, topped with Swiss and mozzarella cheeses as well as Buffalo-style mayo, pickles, housemade pesto and lemon caper aioli.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
11 May 2026
-
Breakfast also featured a fish main (a thick cut of salmon with miso sauce), pickles, rice, and miso soup.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Still, even after the election, Magyar has remained relentlessly on message—which is to say, vague and tight-lipped, leaving several inconvenient dilemmas unaddressed.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Researchers then provided examples of thoughtful responses to ethical dilemmas, which the model learned from via supervised learning.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Journeys that used to take entire seasons were being covered in single episodes, characters survived predicaments that once meant surefire death, and previously relevant factors like supplies, infrastructure, and alliances no longer mattered.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That alone changes the math — his cardio dropoff against Strickland was directly tied to the weight cut, and removing that variable fixes one of the only real holes in his game.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Bullet holes could be seen in the back door of one of the homes.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Workers of the 1920s waded into swamps, armed with axes and handsaws.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The fire had reached nearby bays and swamps, which contributed to the challenging firefighting conditions.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wickets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wickets. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
