Synonyms for quandary
Most common
difficulty plight predicament perplexity uncertainty dilemma paradox
All synonyms
Noun
1. Predicament
predicament, perplexity, difficulty, plight, fix, bewilderment, embarrassment, puzzle, pickle, spot, pinch, strait, jam, quagmire, bind, sticky wicket
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
A state of not knowing what to decide; a state of difficulty or perplexity; a state of uncertainty, hesitation or puzzlement; a dilemma, a difficult decision or choice.
Forms
- Plural
- quandaries → predicaments, perplexities, difficulties, plights…
Example sentences
- difficulty I had difficulty getting a ticket for the concert.
- plight She was not sympathetic to my plight.
- predicament This is a fine predicament you've gotten us into.
- perplexity He laughed heartily at my perplexity.
- uncertainty All forecasts have a certain degree of uncertainty.
- dilemma A moral dilemma can test a person’s true character.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| quandary | rising | |
| difficulty | falling | |
| plight | steady | |
| predicament | rising | |
| perplexity | rising | |
| uncertainty | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- fix1, jam1
- 4 letters
- spot1, bind1
- 5 letters
- pinch1
- 6 letters
- puzzle2, strait1, plight1, pickle2
- 7 letters
- dilemma3, paradox3
- 8 letters
- quagmire3
- 10 letters
- difficulty4, perplexity4
- 11 letters
- uncertainty4, predicament4
- 12 letters
- bewilderment4
- 13 letters
- embarrassment4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (puzzle2 = 2 syllables).