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
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Grade 10, List 2
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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.
“I would say that, absent the Trump branding, most industry experts would say that the phone is not a good value at that price point,” Edwards, also Quandary Peak’s principal computer scientist, told Salon.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
Teacher in a Quandary: You should make more of an effort to find the rightful owner of these heirlooms before you decide on next steps.
From Washington Post • Oct. 30, 2021
In May 2012, as part of a physiology class, Carlson and Visich decided to take students on a trip up Quandary Peak, a Colorado mountain.
From The Verge • Nov. 12, 2018
The team created several initiatives, including The Family Dinner Project: http://thefamilydinnerproject.org and a computer game called Quandary: http://www.quandarygame.org, which won Game of the Year at the 2013 Games for Change conference.
From Forbes • Nov. 24, 2014
She is in a Quandary, for she fears the dogs will bite her—though their chains are not long enough.
From The Royal Picture Alphabet by Leighton, John
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.
