predicament

[ pri-dik-uh-muhnt for 1, 3; pred-i-kuh-muhnt for 2 ]

See synonyms for predicament on Thesaurus.com

noun

an unpleasantly difficult, perplexing, or dangerous situation.
a class or category of logical or philosophical predication.

Archaic. a particular state, condition, or situation.

Origin of predicament

First recorded in 1350–1400; 1580–90 for def. 1; Middle English, from Late Latin praedicāmentum “something predicated, asserted,” derivative of praedicāre.See predicate, -ment

synonym study For predicament

1. Predicament, dilemma, plight, quandary refer to unpleasant or puzzling situations. Predicament and plight stress more the unpleasant nature, quandary and dilemma the puzzling nature of the situation. Predicament and plight are sometimes interchangeable; plight, however, though originally meaning peril or danger, is seldom used today except laughingly: When his suit wasn't ready at the cleaners, he was in a terrible plight. Predicament, though likewise capable of being used lightly, may also refer to a really crucial situation: Stranded in a strange city without money, he was in a predicament. Dilemma, in popular use, means a position of doubt or perplexity in which one is faced by two equally undesirable alternatives: the dilemma of a hostess who must choose between offending her anti-drinking guests or disappointing those who expected cocktails. Quandary is the state of mental perplexity of one faced with a difficult situation: There seemed to be no way out of the quandary.

Other words from predicament

pre·dic·a·men·tal [pri-dik-uh-men-tl, pred-i-kuh-], /prɪˌdɪk əˈmɛn tl, ˌprɛd ɪ kə-/, adjective
pre·dic·a·men·tal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use predicament in a sentence

Country-wide, the lack of utilities, even in urban areas, leads to absurdist predicaments.
Pakistan's Yuppies in Danger | Lorraine Adams | May 12, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
But as evidenced by two other fathers' restraint in the face of similar predicaments, it doesn't have to be this way.
Celebrity Dads Who Act Out | Chris Lee | February 28, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
To hear about their predicaments is to see exactly how much, and how little, was won in court this week.
Migrants in Limbo | Bryan Curtis | July 30, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Not the same policies, mind you, because they are inadequate for our predicaments but the same spirit.
Bob Rubin's House of Cards | Jeff Madrick | November 29, 2008 | THE DAILY BEAST
She had often helped Johnny out of his predicaments, receiving in return plenty of kisses and sugar-plums.
Dotty Dimple At Home | Sophie May

There are predicaments when the shrewd brute and cunning brigand has his superior at a disadvantage.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2 No 4, October, 1862 | Various
He includes among such entities all Aristotle's 'predicaments' except the first: 'substance.'
The English Utilitarians, Volume I. | Leslie Stephen
But he had been in bad predicaments before, and, hopeless as it now 43seemed, something might turn up to save them yet.
The River of Darkness | William Murray Graydon
Mary was sitting up straight on the boulder now, her face dimpling as she recalled these various predicaments.
Mary Ware in Texas | Annie F. Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for predicament

predicament

/ (prɪˈdɪkəmənt) /

noun

a perplexing, embarrassing, or difficult situation
(ˈprɛdɪkəmənt) logic obsolete one of Aristotle's ten categories of being

archaic a specific condition, circumstance, state, position, etc

Origin of predicament

C14: from Late Latin praedicāmentum what is predicated, from praedicāre to announce, assert; see predicate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse