predicament
noun
pre·dic·a·ment
pri-ˈdi-kə-mənt 
sense 1 is usually ˈpre-di-kə-
1
: the character, status, or classification assigned by a predication
specifically
: category sense 1
Synonyms
Examples of predicament in a Sentence
The captain of archers fidgeted and coughed and rolled his eyes at his men, as if such cupidity and dishonor were an inevitable but minor aspect of the human predicament …
—
Michael Chabon, New York Times Magazine, 6 May 2007
We saw photographs that week of buildings burning, stunned onlookers, dust-covered firemen. Very few pictures conveyed the fact that people just like us, our fellow passengers on the subway, suddenly found themselves in a mortal predicament and many died horribly.
—Garrison Keillor, New York Times Book Review, 3 Sept. 2006
The President found himself in the backwash of earlier deals, and the demands of secrecy made his predicament the more vexing.
—Taylor Branch, Parting the Waters, 1988
The governor has gotten himself into quite a predicament.
I don't know how to get out of the predicament I'm in.
Michael Chabon, New York Times Magazine, 6 May 2007
We saw photographs that week of buildings burning, stunned onlookers, dust-covered firemen. Very few pictures conveyed the fact that people just like us, our fellow passengers on the subway, suddenly found themselves in a mortal predicament and many died horribly.
—Garrison Keillor, New York Times Book Review, 3 Sept. 2006
The President found himself in the backwash of earlier deals, and the demands of secrecy made his predicament the more vexing.
—Taylor Branch, Parting the Waters, 1988
The governor has gotten himself into quite a predicament.
I don't know how to get out of the predicament I'm in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite their mirth, Tomas ultimately imprisons the couple in his house to turn them over to the opposition, a predicament that completely decimates what little fortitude Elena has left.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
Move Forward’s current predicament has been likened to that of its predecessor, Future Forward Party, which was dissolved and whose key leaders were barred from political office for a decade.
—TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Homebuyers in your predicament extend the close of escrow (change of ownership) date.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
Inmates who had never committed a crime still tended to blame themselves for their predicament—they’d fallen in love with the wrong man, sought refuge in the wrong town.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Relief from a state appeals court would be the least painful way out of Trump’s predicament, the people said.
—Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Since the sister shared her predicament, her post has amassed over 5,000 likes and 2,000 comments.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
In the face of such dire predicaments, Monterey County supervisors in late February asked those distributing the aid to be as flexible as possible with documentation.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024
That leaves only two categories that pose a significant predicament for awards prognosticators: Motion Picture Cast and Male Actor in a Leading Role.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
Move Forward’s current predicament has been likened to that of its predecessor, Future Forward Party, which was dissolved and whose key leaders were barred from political office for a decade.
—TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Homebuyers in your predicament extend the close of escrow (change of ownership) date.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
Inmates who had never committed a crime still tended to blame themselves for their predicament—they’d fallen in love with the wrong man, sought refuge in the wrong town.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Relief from a state appeals court would be the least painful way out of Trump’s predicament, the people said.
—Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Since the sister shared her predicament, her post has amassed over 5,000 likes and 2,000 comments.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
In the face of such dire predicaments, Monterey County supervisors in late February asked those distributing the aid to be as flexible as possible with documentation.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024
That leaves only two categories that pose a significant predicament for awards prognosticators: Motion Picture Cast and Male Actor in a Leading Role.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'predicament.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near predicament
Cite this Entry
“Predicament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predicament. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predicament
noun
pre·dic·a·ment
pri-ˈdik-ə-mənt
: a difficult, puzzling, or trying situation : fix
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