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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
-
Finch’s faith The Timberwolves’ coach has a dilemma on his hands with Rob Dillingham.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
At the same time, Powell emphasized the boom creates a policy dilemma for the Fed.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Funding predicament The CJA funding shortfall is a result of the continuing resolution that Congress approved in March, just hours before a looming shutdown, to fund the government through the end of September.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
And as of this July, 58% of Gen Z students globally who finished college in the past year were still trying to find stable work, compared to 25% of millennials and Gen Xers who faced the same predicament.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
To get the Benny Blanco drink, customers could add cherry flavor and pickles.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Blue Jays reliever Seranthony Dominguez got into a pickle of his own in the 10th inning.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Keep your windows closed and patch any holes in screens to deter moths from entering your home.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Next, a 10,000-pound concrete-and-steel battering ram was used to punch 24-foot holes through the ice, beginning at the far end of the whales' four-mile path to freedom, so as not to alarm them.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Alvarado put the Phillies in a bind this season, and that might not be easy for those in the clubhouse to forgive.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Similarly to Young in Week 2 against Arizona, Dalton’s giveaways put the Panthers in a bind early.—
DIAMOND VENCES,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This sent Teddy down a rabbit hole of Internet conspiracy theories that ultimately led to him latching onto the idea that Michelle is an alien-in-disguise from the Andromeda galaxy who was sent to Earth as part of a plot to wipe out humanity.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
-
As for the actual conspiracy investigation, Ron and Mike make some headway in this episode, traveling several layers deeper down the Tecca rabbit hole.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As officers continued the search, local Herb Yancy offered up his boat to help after Kraviec saw movement in the swamp.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
After a brief debate, the group settles on the swamp.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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