Synonyms of quandary

quandary

noun

ˈkwän-d(ə-)rē 

as in dilemma

a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dilemma
• problem
• double bind
• catch-22
• impasse
• difficulty
• predicament
• quagmire
• deadlock
• stalemate
• pickle
• standoff
• plight
• bind
• jam
• fix
• pinch
• knot
• spot
• hole

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breeze
• snap
• cinch
• duck soup

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of quandary

The film succeeds not only as an examination of the extraordinary quandary facing the couple but also simply as a compelling wartime drama featuring excellent performances from the two leads, who are, like most of the cast, non-professional actors. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026

Bringing in child actors to play out quandaries about school life led Mann to shift to YouTube, where younger audiences connected with the content. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2026

Medical schools, though, are facing a vexing quandary over AI scribes. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026

The Iran war has generated uncertainty over the economic outlook and has driven energy prices higher, intensifying inflationary pressure and creating a quandary for Fed policymakers. — Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 29 July 2026