Meaning & use
quandary
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Meaning
nouncountable
A state of uncertainty or confusion over what to do when faced with a difficult choice.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the phrase 'in a quandary'.
Patterns
- in a quandary
- face a quandary
- put someone in a quandary
- a moral quandary
She was in a quandary about whether to accept the job offer.
The committee faced a quandary when both candidates were equally qualified.
He found himself in a quandary over which car to buy.
Word forms
| plural | quandaries |
|---|
Common combinations
- in a quandary
- I'm in a quandary about what to do next.
- face a quandary
- Many parents face a quandary when choosing schools.
- moral quandary
- The novel explores a moral quandary faced by the protagonist.
- put someone in a quandary
- His unexpected resignation put the board in a quandary.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dilemma
- A situation where a difficult choice must be made between two options; 'quandary' emphasizes indecision more than the choice itself.
- predicament
- A difficult or unpleasant situation, often with a sense of being trapped; 'quandary' is more about mental uncertainty.
- perplexity
- A state of being confused or puzzled; 'quandary' specifically involves a decision.
Opposites
Word family
- quandaries noun
- Plural form.
Commonly confused: quandary or boundary?
quandary vs boundary
A line that marks a limit; not related to uncertainty.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Quandary' means a state of uncertainty over a choice, so the first sentence fits. The second uses it for a simple fact, not a decision. The third uses it with a preposition of movement, which is wrong. The fourth uses it as an adjective, which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “quandary”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.