quandary
A state of not knowing what to decideA 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.
» We're in a quandary because we have two excellent candidates.
Wir befinden uns in einer Zwickmühle, denn wir haben zwei hervorragende Kandidaten.
Meaning
1 sensesA 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.
Dilemma, verfahrene Situation, Zwickmühle
затруднительное положе́ниеzatrudnitelʹnoje položénije, затрудне́ниеzatrudnénije, недоуме́ниеnedouménije
state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
Examples
5 sentencesWe're in a quandary because we have two excellent candidates.
deWir befinden uns in einer Zwickmühle, denn wir haben zwei hervorragende Kandidaten. — Waldelfe
Tom was in a quandary about who to vote for in the election.
deTom konnte sich nicht entscheiden, wem er bei der Wahl seine Stimme geben sollte. — Pfirsichbaeumchen
I was in a quandary.
Mary is in a bit of a quandary over whether to tell Tom or not.
deMaria ringt mit sich, ob sie’s Tom sagen soll. — Pfirsichbaeumchen
The nationwide lockdown has left thousands of foreign tourists and visitors in Italy in a quandary.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
16th century. Origin unknown; perhaps a dialectal corruption (simulating a word of Latin o16th century. Origin unknown; perhaps a dialectal corruption (simulating a word of Latin origin with suffix -ary) of wandreth (“evil, plight, peril, adversity, difficulty”), from Middle English wandreth, from Old Norse vandræði (“difficulty, trouble”), from vándr (“difficult, requiring pains and care”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: quandaries| Singular | quandary |
|---|---|
| Plural | quandaries |
regular
Synonyms
37 synonyms- state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options:dilemma
- a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one:predicamentplight