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
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Despite all the developments since the FOMC’s last meeting, Boston College economics professor Brian Bethune said the Fed’s dilemma has not changed.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
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Helen is said to have sacrificed a promising acting career to star in her husband’s films and raise their kids, adding an interesting wrinkle to Ula’s dilemma about breaking the news of her next gig to her parents.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Terrified teens are expected to explain their predicament to the court and risk dire punishment at home.—
Fraidy Reiss,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
As the ballerinas hatch a plan to come out of their predicament alive, bodies begin to drop dead.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
So, given the resemblance, why weren’t the Jam in a pickle?—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Dill for digestion, fish dishes of all manners, and knock-your-socks-off garlicy pickles.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Acuña grounded to the shortstop hole and beat Antonacci’s throw from the outfield grass as pinch-runner Andrés Giménez scored.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Photographs shown to jurors depicted bullet holes in the exterior walls of the residence and inside the bedroom where Moïse was killed.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Haredi ultimatum has put Netanyahu in a bind.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The Iran crisis also puts the world’s central banks in a bind.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Alex Hogan’s latest video (an excellent romp into the new semaglutide pills) sent me tumbling down a rabbit hole that ended with Monty Norman, the guy who composed the James Bond theme song.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
6 Mar. 2026
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Finding out involves a rabbit hole of campaign finance documents.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Feb. 2026
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,
16 Mar. 2026
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Its property is not far from 1,830 acres of swamp that is designated for the C-11 Impoundment Project, which is part of the sweeping Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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