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 Experts break down what the Constitution, framers said about 'presidential immunity' The immunity question presents an unprecedented constitutional quandary for the Supreme Court. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2024 Explore the philosophical and moral quandaries that underlie AI’s potential for good and bad. Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024 For now, impossibility keeps me from the quandary of having to decide. Melanie McCabe, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 For Democratic and independent voters in New Hampshire this year, the most important issue facing the United States isn't the economy, the sort of kitchen-table quandaries that more often than not determine presidential elections. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2024 That meteorological conundrum has created something of a quandary for Sunseeker, the British motoryacht builder. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2023 State-law gaps leave certain child actors in a legal quandary: While Georgia—the state where Thompson lives—doesn’t have these protections, children who provide services within said states are covered. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024 The response to the tragic events now unfolding in Gaza and Israel requires a fresh look at this unresolved and expressly Christian quandary. James Carroll, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024 Because so many landlords at the expo regularly filed evictions, such ethical quandaries were rendered largely irrelevant. Mya Frazier, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024

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 3 May. 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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