predicament

noun

pre·​dic·​a·​ment pri-ˈdi-kə-mənt 

sense 1 is usually ˈpre-di-kə-

1

: the character, status, or classification assigned by a predication

specifically : category sense 1

2

: condition, state

especially : a difficult, perplexing, or trying situation

I don't know how we're going to get out of this predicament.

Synonyms of predicament

• dilemma
• pickle

Examples of predicament in a Sentence

The captain of archers fidgeted and coughed and rolled his eyes at his men, as if such cupidity and dishonor were an inevitable but minor aspect of the human predicament … —Michael Chabon, New York Times Magazine, 6 May 2007

We saw photographs that week of buildings burning, stunned onlookers, dust-covered firemen. Very few pictures conveyed the fact that people just like us, our fellow passengers on the subway, suddenly found themselves in a mortal predicament and many died horribly. —Garrison Keillor, New York Times Book Review, 3 Sept. 2006

The President found himself in the backwash of earlier deals, and the demands of secrecy made his predicament the more vexing. —Taylor Branch, Parting the Waters, 1988

The governor has gotten himself into quite a predicament.

I don't know how to get out of the predicament I'm in.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the current predicament of Pahlavi, whose royal charisma has never been more on the line. —Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026

One thing the two men could agree on was that this whole predicament was Jimmy Buffett’s fault. —Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026

When the host called out DiCaprio as the King of Memes and took the opportunity to make a new one, viewers could spot Ceretti sitting beside the 51-year-old and laughing at her beau's predicament. —Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026

While most of us on the plane were in this same unexpected predicament, a passenger nearby didn't seem to be sharing in our misery thanks to a compact gadget that propped up their phone to the perfect viewing height. —Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin praedicamentum, from praedicare — see predicate entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for predicament

• medicament

Kids Definition

predicament

noun

pre·​dic·​a·​ment pri-ˈdik-ə-mənt 

: a difficult, puzzling, or trying situation : fix