predicament

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

|Updated on: 13 Aug 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

Thirty-five-win teams shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but the Lakers are in a win-or-else predicament by virtue of their storied history.

— dylan hernandez, latimes.com, "On the Lakers’ road back to greatness with LeBron, the hardest steps may still lie ahead," 12 July 2018
One team member, Adul Samon, 14, is in a similar predicament.

— ellen mcgirt, Fortune, "What's Next For The Rescued Thai Soccer Team?," 10 July 2018
To his credit, Arnold knows to avoid the trap of providing top-down solutions to teach Brazilians how to deal with their own predicament.

— bruno garcez, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘The Third Bank of the River,’ by Chris Feliciano Arnold," 14 June 2018
Scores of Wisconsin farmers are in a similar predicament.

— rick barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "As dairy crisis crushes farmers, Wisconsin's rural identity in jeopardy," 13 Apr. 2018
County leaders blamed the state government for their predicament.

— scott wartman, Cincinnati.com, "Hamilton County commissioners just voted to increase sales tax - without asking voters in November," 18 June 2018
Rosenstein makes light of his predicament, at times, during public appearances.

— john king, cnn chief national correspondent, CNN, "Rosenstein 'remarkably calm' amid Russia storm," 27 May 2018
Kyle Lucke came in and got out of that predicament.

— kirk kenney, sandiegouniontribune.com, "UC San Diego in driver's seat of CCAA Tournament after 5-2 win over Chico State," 10 May 2018
These are songs — rambling roots-rocking songs — about that uniquely American predicament of trying to wander and roam in search of the country’s spirit, trying to find oneself by getting gone.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Wise Old Moon Album Release Show At Bridge Street Live," 5 May 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.