conundrum

co·nun·drum

noun \kə-ˈnən-drəm\

Definition of CONUNDRUM

1

: a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun

2

a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer b : an intricate and difficult problem

Examples of CONUNDRUM

1. <the conundrum of how an ancient people were able to build such massive structures without the benefit of today's knowledge and technology>
2. … giving parents a wealth of educational options sometimes presents a familiar inner-city conundrum: What if all your choices are bad ones? —Katherine Boo, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2001
3. Mention of poor eyes and good eyes brings me to the creationist's favorite conundrum. What is the use of half an eye? —Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden, 1995
4. The explanation of this conundrum is to be heard, at this very moment, on certain surreptitious radio waves, on which the voice of the American convert Bilal is … transmuted into the thunderous speech of the Imam himself. —Salman Rushdie, Harper's, December 1988

Origin of CONUNDRUM

origin unknown

First Known Use: 1645

Related to CONUNDRUM

Synonyms: closed book, mystery, enigma, head-scratcher, mystification, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle, secret

Related Words: brainteaser, case, challenge, knot, matter, perplexity, poser, problem, stumper, trouble

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