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View synonyms for quandary

quandary

[ kwon-duh-ree, -dree ]

noun

, plural quan·da·ries.
  1. a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma.


quandary

/ ˈkwɒndrɪ; -dərɪ /

noun

  1. a situation or circumstance that presents problems difficult to solve; predicament; dilemma


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Word History and Origins

Origin of quandary1

First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps fancifully from Latin quand(ō) “when” + -āre infinitive suffix

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Word History and Origins

Origin of quandary1

C16: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Latin quandō when

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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Washington faces a similar quandary in Year 2 of its rebuild under Rivera.

Character, the UC Berkeley graduate, faced a similar quandary when Amazon offered her a job even before she had graduated from college.

True authenticity, however, requires showing the bad along with the good, and that presents a quandary.

Maybe put into perspective the way you’re looking at that sort of quandary.

With sympathies divided, the player is faced with a series of devastating moral quandaries.

From Time

The quandary of whether to freeze eggs or not could become irrelevant overnight.

A teary Osbourne said she now thought "WWJD—what would Joan do" when faced with a quandary.

James Gunn, the director Marvel handpicked to helm the sci-fi opera Guardians of the Galaxy, was facing a similar quandary.

People of privilege making an effort to be better people face a difficult quandary.

As I noted in November, this legislation presented a quandary for Christie.

In his quandary, he heard a step without and looking up saw Pete in the open door.

Here again he was in a quandary, for except for a word or two of ordinary use he could understand no Zulu.

"I was attacked about four miles up the road by a tremendous sixty-pound Quandary, and I was nearly killed," said the major.

What put Matt in a quandary, however, was the fact that he could not reconcile his present surroundings with the Crescent.

He did not mean to find himself in a quandary when they were ready to turn back again, and not be able to say where the camp lay.

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QuanahQuandary Peak