predicament

noun pre·dic·a·ment \ pri-ˈdi-kə-mənt , sense 1 is usually ˈpre-di-kə- \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: predicament in a Sentence

Definition of predicament

1 : the character, status, or classification assigned by a predication; specifically : category 1

2 : condition, state; especially : a difficult, perplexing, or trying situation

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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 of predicament from the Web

The unique system, which has only been in use since 2012, is creating unusual predicaments for both parties.

— NBC News, "Three things to watch in California's crucial primary races Tuesday," 5 June 2018
Finally, with his presidential campaign about to launch, Harding had to fess-up to the Republican National Committee about his predicament.

— elaine weiss, WSJ, "Presidential Hush Money, Circa 1920," 31 May 2018
Columbus State reliever Payton Phillips got out of the predicament, however, when UCSD’s Keenan Brigman grounded into a double play.

— kirk kenney, sandiegouniontribune.com, "UC San Diego shut out by Columbus State at NCAA Division II Championship," 29 May 2018
Goldstein is an extreme example of the predicament facing some Arizona Summit graduates who struggle to pass the bar exam.

— anne ryman, USA TODAY, "Law school graduate has failed the bar exam 6 times but still keeps trying," 16 May 2018
Goldstein is an extreme example of the predicament facing some Arizona Summit graduates who struggle to pass the bar exam.

— anne ryman, azcentral, "Meet an Arizona Summit Law School graduate who failed the bar exam 6 times and still keeps trying," 16 May 2018
The Journal recently provided a useful snapshot of the predicament: The burgeoning manufacturing sector in Iowa can’t find enough skilled workers to fill jobs.

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "You've got to work it," 5 Apr. 2018
Its popularity, Smith knows, has now put him in a bit of a predicament.

— nancy kruh, PEOPLE.com, "Meet Granger Smith's New Alter Ego: Crazy Cat Guy! Behind the Scenes of His Hilarious Parody Video," 30 Mar. 2018
As is typical, only a handful of aides made the trip with the President, and none was eager to engage him about his predicament.

— philip elliott, Time, "Inside Donald Trump's Twitter-Fueled Weekend Meltdown," 20 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'predicament.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.