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
Of philosophy’s many sticky wickets, consciousness is perhaps the most perplexing.
—
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
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
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky wicket
Noun
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Since taking office in mid-2022, Marcos has grappled with multiple complex problems and political dilemmas.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Perpetrators seem to let those dilemmas slide off, like Teflon.—
Lynn DeWoskin Covarrubias,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
They were considered a distant contender as the eighth championship favorite — before the injuries snowballed and created this predicament.—
Douglas Kezirian,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The term worst-case scenario doesn’t begin to accurately describe your character’s predicament in Thrash.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And at least one pickle pope blessing people with herbs.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Chicken wings brined in salt and pickle juice, as well as salads, will also appear on the menu.—
Jenna Thompson
April 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Deputies noticed possible bullet holes in a parking sign in front of the business suite, which is near a church.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Rory McIlroy faded his tee shot into the pine straw, forcing a dramatic finish for his second consecutive Masters title, a final round that saw the Northern Irish golfer press his luck on the final few holes.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Republicans have put themselves in a bind.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Now Hilton is in a bit of a bind.—
Joe Garofoli,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tatiana Maslany goes down a dangerous rabbit hole as Paula in the upcoming new Apple dark comedy thriller Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, premiering May 20.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The feminist theorist and scholar Tressie McMillan Cottom went even further down the rabbit hole in a Bluesky post yesterday.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Post-Order 66 Jedi are often just lesser versions of Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda, skulking around in swamps and deserts, but this duo can't seem to stay away from the action.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Tiger Bay State Forest At more than 28,000 acres, this massive state forest is home to trails, swamps, pine islands, and numerous species of birds and wildlife, like Florida black bears and bald eagles.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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