quandary

1 a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one; "finds himself in a most awkward predicament"; "the woeful plight of homeless people" [syn: predicament, plight]

2 state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options [syn: dilemma]

English

Etymology

16th century. Uncertain origin.

Pronunciation

• a US /ˈkwɑn.dri/

Noun

1. A dilemma.
2. A state of not knowing what to decide.

Synonyms

• perplexity
• uncertainty

Translations

Quandary may refer to:

• Dr. Quandary, a fictional character in the video game The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary
• Mount Quandary, a mountain of Antarctica
• Quandary Peak, a fourteener of Colorado

Gordian knot, baffle, bafflement, bewilderment, bother, confoundment, confusion, crux, difficulty, dilemma, discomposure, disconcert, disconcertedness, disconcertion, disconcertment, disturbance, embarrassment, enigma, fix, jam, knot, knotty point, mystery, node, nodus, nonplus, oxymoron, paradox, perplexity, perturbation, pickle, plight, pons asinorum, poser, pother, predicament, problem, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle, scrape, stew, teaser, unassuredness, uncertainty, upset, vexed question