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
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
In contrast, altering and editing an image can be a much more nuanced process that makes determining what part is from humans a sticky wicket.
—Drew McLellan, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
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
In contrast, altering and editing an image can be a much more nuanced process that makes determining what part is from humans a sticky wicket.
—Drew McLellan, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticky wicket
Noun
-
The dilemma about his son provides the bare minimum of drama to chew on, allowing Dexter’s focus to shift toward playful topics like his new cold-blooded buddies and the peculiar nature of his new playground, New York City.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 July 2025
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This case involving the MyPillow lawyers is just a microcosm of the growing dilemma of how courts and lawyers can strike the balance between welcoming life-changing technology and using it responsibly in court.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Considering its financial predicament and wealth of center backs, Barca could be tempted to sell the South American warhorse if a European rival tables his asking price.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
-
But by making plain that the students were a token in his trade war, Trump only increased the uncertainty of their predicament.—
Lavender Au,
The Atlantic,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
The vinegar used to quick pickle the onions also adds a vinegary pungency to the salad, and dill and basil work together to add fresh and herbaceous notes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
-
Some foods and drinks high in electrolytes include watermelon, coconut water, leafy green vegetables, bone broth, pickles, and more.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Toronto has plenty of holes in the roster to add talent.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
-
Ben Rice worked a walk after going down in an 0-2 hole, and after doing so himself, Austin Wells tied the game with a two-run single.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Other Republicans say the bill doesn’t go far enough to reduce spending and are pushing for deeper cuts, putting their party's leadership in a bind.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
-
Trump and his national security team find themselves in a bind.—
Jennifer Kavanagh,
Foreign Affairs,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Lawrence — not only an author but the facilities manager for the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum — started running down a distinctly Canadian rabbit hole a decade ago.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
-
There are so many facets to filmmaking, and filmmaking books can lead to falling down overly comprehensive rabbit holes.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
That was soon followed by airborne training and then Ranger school, a notoriously grueling nine-week program that includes three weeks each at Fort Benning, in the mountains of Georgia, and in the swamps of Florida.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
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The detention camp will place thousands of immigrants in wire cages in a humidity-intense swamp that is all but inaccessible to hospital ambulances, and where the summertime heat index can soar above 100 degrees.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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