quicksand

noun

quick·​sand ˈkwik-ˌsand How to pronounce quicksand (audio)
1
: sand readily yielding to pressure
especially : a deep mass of loose sand mixed with water into which heavy objects readily sink
2
: something that entraps or frustrates
lead poor people into consumerist quicksandRobert Wright

Examples of quicksand in a Sentence

freed from the quicksands of war mired in the quicksand of credit card debt
Recent Examples on the Web Watch Driver discuss his son's cynical approach to cinema — and his own childhood fear of quicksand — in the clip above. Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2023 While cloaked in the guise of worker support, minimum-wage increases are economic quicksand threatening to engulf the very foundation of local markets. Patrick M. Brenner, National Review, 2 Feb. 2024 Still, just days before the trip, certain sections of the roughly 50 miles of desert roads leading to the launch site turned into axle-deep quicksand. Pete Zimowsky, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Three consecutive possessions illustrated the quicksand into which their offense had fallen. Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024 Instead, companies that sell luxury goods online have turned into quicksand for investors. Carol Ryan, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023 Sucked into quicksand, sometimes up to your waist, sometimes ALL THE WAY IN. Rachel Feltman, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2023 The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, has inspired hundreds of books about a seminal event that, almost 60 years later, remains mired in a toxic quicksand of controversy and misinformation. Michael Granberry, Dallas News, 14 Sep. 2023 As the legal quicksand around Sam Bankman-Fried and his parents deepens, the family is turning to a risky strategy: blame the lawyers. Byjeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 22 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quicksand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quicksand was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near quicksand

Cite this Entry

“Quicksand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quicksand. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

quicksand

noun
quick·​sand ˈkwik-ˌsand How to pronounce quicksand (audio)
: a deep mass of loose sand mixed with water into which heavy objects sink

More from Merriam-Webster on quicksand

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!