quandary
Americannoun
noun
Synonym Usage
See predicament.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of quandary
First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps fancifully from Latin quand(ō) “when” + -āre infinitive suffix
Explanation
How to define the word quandary? Wow, this is quite a dilemma. What to do, what to do? Hmmm. Looks like this moment itself is a quandary: a tough situation that will be really hard to resolve. If you’re uncertain what to do because all of your options seem unpleasant, you’re probably in a quandary. Some voters find themselves in a quandary when they dislike all of the candidates. A more common quandary is when you plan two events at the same time and can’t decide which one to attend. Some synonyms are predicament, dilemma, plight, and pickle — and choosing which word to use is a quandary in itself.
Vocabulary lists containing quandary
In a Pickle: Words for When You're in Trouble
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Grade 10, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
OpenAI has been trying to build up its Claude Code competitor, Codex, and sees a window of opportunity in Anthropic’s quandary.
From Slate ● Apr. 14, 2026
Their quandary is that nobody else can substitute for America’s military and economic might in the foreseeable future.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026
Valerie’s quandary seems much plainer in that her show’s success would be a death sentence for entertainment creatives.
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026
It is a nice quandary for Slegers to ponder before the first leg of an intriguing Champions League quarter-final against WSL rivals Chelsea on Tuesday.
From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2026
For a moment, I was in a quandary.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
The employment of fully autonomous weapons presents real ethical quandaries, though the technology isn’t ready for that.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Osit wants us to leave the theater chewing over these quandaries, and he’s even willing to let us wonder whether his own movie is a net-positive on the world.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2025
Her sparked some of my first reflections about whether tech innovation is inherently good or bad for society, and helped validate my early moral quandaries and panic at the time.
From Slate ● Apr. 11, 2025
In his order last week, Justice Merchan wrote that "it is this court's firm belief that only by bringing finality to this matter" will the legal quandaries at play be resolved.
From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2025
For Howard, they would present some of the most difficult quandaries of his public life.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
