Thesaurus results for STICKY WICKET

sticky wicket

noun

Definition of sticky wicket

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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sticky wicket The sticky wicket, which has been the stickiest for AI-tech megacaps, is investor angst around capital expenditures and a sluggish pace of return that could send the stock on a nosedive. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 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 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 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 drug dilemma Don Moulds sounds exasperated when talking about prescription drugs, which have been political fuel for more than a decade.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
But strains at the top of the organization over its brand and direction reflect many premium news outlets’ dilemmas about survival and profit in a post-traffic, AI-ascendant media age.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of dilemma

Noun

Her sister Judith can grow huge pumpkins, her twin brother Sammy can heal ailing plants, and her Auntie Dee makes pickles that can predict the future.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
The burger will drip all over your fries, which are included and cut like pickle chips.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of pickle

Noun

The average user on both a sportsbook and prediction market loses money, and trying to claw back losses puts users in even deeper financial holes, experts warn.

— Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Walker split a hole created by Trey Smith and Jaylon Moore on the right side of the line, never broke stride and sprinted 76 yards down the right side to set up the Chiefs’ go-ahead touchdown pass to Thornton in the fourth quarter.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of hole

Noun

More recently, in 2023, Belarusian embassies abroad stopped extending or renewing passports entirely, putting dissidents who fled the country in a similar bind to those from Myanmar.

— Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026
Feasting on neutrality Few illustrate the current bind better than Caitlin Clark.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of bind

Noun

Housing discrimination and segregation were deep-seated, and the Los Angeles sky was the color of swamp water.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
The decision by crypto’s current generation of leaders to trade in these ideals for swamp-style politics can, therefore, be seen as a deep betrayal.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of swamp

Browse Nearby Words

sticky

sticky wicket

sticky wickets

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sticky wicket.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticky%20wicket. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sticky wicket

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Luddite

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes