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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And so part of her quandary is having to deal with the disconnect between the weird stories that she’s grown up with and the fact that this has actually happened to her. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2025 But more importantly, reality TV fans were hooked on the moral quandaries contestants faced and the wild adventures that aired on our TV screens each and every week. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025 Anderson follows Welles’s artistic boldness (Mr. Arkadin’s fractured narrative and idiosyncratic archetypes), but in his own visually eccentric way illustrates that spiritual quandary is not new to mankind’s experience. Armond White, National Review, 30 May 2025 Choosing a timeless gift will nail the right sentiment, but picking the perfect timepiece out of a few (gazillion) options can present a quandary. Outside Online, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for quandary

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quandary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quandary. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on quandary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!