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whack-a-mole

American  
[wak-uh-mohl] / ˈwæk əˌmoʊl /

noun

  1. Trademark. Also Whack-A-Mole, Whac-A-Mole. (used of a situation in which the treatment of one problem is followed by another problem, randomly and repeatedly.)


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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The U.S. effort has increasingly resembled a game of whack-a-mole.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 25, 2026

Raiding scam compounds has been described as playing whack-a-mole.

From BBC Apr. 6, 2026

The work often feels like a game of whack-a-mole.

From Barron's Apr. 2, 2026

“With different concerns popping up day by day, investors are playing whack-a-mole and seeking appropriate compensation for risk,” Vanguard’s Wrzesniewsky said, noting the jump in bond yields since the conflict started.

From MarketWatch Mar. 27, 2026

“I swear, my days are like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole with these kids. Think they can get away with everything.”

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely

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