How to Use tricky in a Sentence

tricky

adjective
  • The lock is tricky to open.
  • The art of survival in the world of the press can be a tricky one.
    Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2024
  • Keep in Mind: The top of the unit is a little tricky to get off.
    Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2023
  • Cutting the bolt, screw or stud to length can be tricky.
    Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 19 Jan. 2023
  • One drawback is that this brush is kind of tricky to clean.
    Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2023
  • For instance, getting the pump on and aligned can be tricky.
    Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 12 Oct. 2023
  • And while the scent of pure leather can be tricky, fear not—this does not skew barnyard.
    Town & Country, 3 Mar. 2023
  • The life of an artist in a police state is very tricky — always has been.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Nov. 2023
  • Knowing how much to ask, how close to get, and how soon to do so can be tricky.
    Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2023
  • This process can be tricky for those who are new to the world of crocheting.
    Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 13 Dec. 2022
  • Cons There are only 15 shades to choose from, so finding the right shade can be tricky.
    Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023
  • All this business about images is tricky, and tetchy, and strange.
    Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2023
  • Cy was declarer at four hearts, and West led a tricky queen of trumps.
    Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024
  • Comets are finicky, and predicting how bright this one will get is tricky.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 Jan. 2024
  • But our short- and medium-term futures are more tricky.
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
  • How did the cast and team prep for the series given its tricky subject matter?
    Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024
  • The site can be tricky for new people to understand, and might not be what fills the Twitter void in the long run.
    Heather Kelly, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Dec. 2022
  • Its a middle ground between a full lease that might be tricky to hang onto and a tent.
    Kevin J. Beaty, NPR, 8 May 2024
  • Should the Globes move forward as planned, there is the tricky question of conflicting shows.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Aug. 2023
  • Asking to leave work on time or taking some time off can be tricky enough.
    Samra Zulfaqar, CNN, 31 Aug. 2024
  • While DeRozan to the Heat cannot be ruled out, finding a common ground with money seems tricky.
    Barry Jackson and, Miami Herald, 4 July 2024
  • What makes things tricky is that solitude is not the same as loneliness.
    Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2022
  • Knowing what to invest in can be tricky when hunting for pieces for a new space.
    Bianca Lambert, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2023
  • What to Consider The waist is not adjustable, so getting the right size may be tricky.
    Red Fabbri, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2024
  • This can be tricky for golfers working with tight spaces.
    John Thompson, Men's Health, 20 July 2023
  • Cons There’s a bit of a learning curve with this device, and getting the right angle is tricky at first.
    Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023
  • As a team, obviously the start of the year was tricky and difficult.
    Michael Loré, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2023
  • The tricky part is often deciding how much of your paycheck to save.
    Tanza Loudenback, wsj.com, 9 Oct. 2023
  • Pittsburgh is favored in the game, but short week divisional games are always tricky.
    Andy Scholes, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Ankle sprains can be tricky, and though Parsons had attempted to return earlier, the training and coaching staff shut him down.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tricky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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