quandary

noun

quan·​da·​ry ˈkwän-d(ə-)rē How to pronounce quandary (audio)
plural quandaries
: a state of perplexity or doubt

Examples of quandary in a Sentence

Williams's quandary is not unlike that faced by other urban executives who have had to wrestle with a deeply rooted power structure. The problem is especially acute for African American mayors. They are expected to serve as sentries, protecting their cities' black communities and staving off so-called white encroachment. Jonetta Rose Barras, Washington Post, 15 June 2003
For a sticky philosophical quandary, the questions are pretty simple: am I a clerk charged with selling college degrees or am I involved in a more meaningful experience? Part of me says that no argument is more worthy of my attention. Lynne Drury Lerych, Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2001
… the inevitable economic quandary that faces a people in the transition from slavery to freedom, and especially those who make that change amid hate and prejudice, lawlessness and ruthless competition. W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, 1903
The unexpected results of the test have created a quandary for researchers. I'm in a quandary about whether I should try to repair my stereo or buy a new one, even though I don't have the money to do either.
Recent Examples on the Web But with platinum now being the dearer of the two precious metals, and one that finds wider usage in the jewelry market, leaves the auto industry in a medium-term quandary. Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024 Those circumstances pose a quandary for buyers: Jump into a newly attractive market that promises thousands of dollars in gains or wait for the possibility of an even more favorable one. Max Zahn, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2024 The most personal of his quandaries, which brought him out of retirement last year, is still his failure to find a successor. Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., WSJ, 10 Nov. 2023 Neutral principles like these can’t resolve the deep moral and political quandaries posed by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2024 Hsiao highlighted the milestones conquered by Gemini, showcasing its abilities in benchmarks that put AI models to the test, spanning high school physics, professional legal quandaries, and moral scenarios. Kylie Robison, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2023 Now Israel faces an entirely different strategic quandary. Roger Cohen, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024 In a sense, that quandary defines Wang’s fictional counterpart, played by promising young actor Izaac Wang with a chili-bowl haircut, braces and a faceful of acne. Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024 Iraq’s invasion of Iran put China in another quandary. Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quandary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quandary was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near quandary

Cite this Entry

“Quandary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quandary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

quandary

noun
quan·​da·​ry ˈkwän-d(ə-)rē How to pronounce quandary (audio)
plural quandaries
: a state of confusion or doubt : dilemma
in a quandary about which to choose

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