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
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By the time France’s Nations League semi-final against Spain comes around in early June, Deschamps will have the usual array of squad composition and team selection dilemmas to contend with.—
Tom Williams,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Mark Brewer, President and CEO of the Central Florida Foundation, views homelessness as a dilemma, not a problem solved with a single action.—
Jane Hursh,
Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
California and other states have spent much of the past decade trying to get out of this predicament by undoing single-family zoning laws and streamlining permitting for apartments, backyard cottages and other higher-density housing.—
Conor Dougherty,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
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Why Canned Wine? Archer Roose Wines, co-owned by chief creative officer and actress Elizabeth Banks and CEO Marian Leitner-Waldman, started with this predicament in mind.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The deal on the burgers – each comes with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, Smash Sauce, and ketchup on a toasted bun – is good in stores, online and through the Smashburger app.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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According to our readers, classics like the Chicken Sandwich Meal (extra pickles, please) and seasonal treats like the Peach Milkshake are always worth stopping for.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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One obstacle the Bengals face in their quest for postseason play, however, is the outbreak of injuries that started in spring training and have created a significant hole in their offense.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
-
One interesting depiction of the Last Supper was found above a German coat of arms, which depicted a goblet, a platter, and a round piece of bread with a hole in it, similar to a Jerusalem bagel.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Immigrant advocates say the new demand has put themselves – and their clients – in a bind.—
Henry Gass,
Christian Science Monitor,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Just like the first time, Democrats are expected to use amendment votes to put Republicans in a bind on a number of issues.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Larry Holder explored a great rabbit hole for this story.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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That led me down a big rabbit hole trying to solve other kinds of problems using similar techniques.—
Steven Strogatz,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, this is what drawing the swamp actually looks like.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
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From the murky swamp to the kingdom of Duloc, Shrek has captured hearts with its wit, adventures and hilarious dialogue.—
Jane LaCroix,
People.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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