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quandary

American  
[kwon-duh-ree, -dree] / ˈkwɒn də ri, -dri /

noun

plural

quandaries

  1. a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma.

quandary British  
/ -dərɪ, ˈkwɒndrɪ /

noun

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

"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

Related Words

See predicament.

Etymology

Origin of quandary

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

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.