quicksand

noun quick·sand \ ˈkwik-ˌsand \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of quicksand

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 quicksand
—Robert Wright

See quicksand defined for English-language learners

See quicksand defined for kids

Examples of quicksand in a Sentence

freed from the quicksands of war
mired in the quicksand of credit card debt

Recent Examples of quicksand from the Web

This is the sort of judicial quicksand that traps many young men into lives of non-productivity.

— phillip morris, cleveland.com, "Kanye West has a thing or two to learn about American slavery: Phillip Morris," 9 May 2018
But by the third film, 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, Odin’s authority seems built on quicksand.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "How Marvel Is Rewriting Its World Order," 24 Apr. 2018
His Kansas teams have always been defined by toughness, their greatest successes often won at the margins with improbable comebacks — every KU fan knows what down nine with 2:12 left means — but this round has been their quicksand.

— sam mellinger, kansascity, "Kansas is back where dreams have so often died: 'I think about it all the time' | The Kansas City Star," 23 Mar. 2018
Sinking myself into The Decline and Fall first felt like a warm bath, but turned into quicksand.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "The Delusions of Trump-Era Escapism," 19 Mar. 2018
There's some black sludge that turns into quicksand.

— chelsea peng, Marie Claire, "The New Full-Length Trailer for 'Mockingjay: Part 2' Goes Right for the Feels," 16 Sep. 2015
The source of his disappointment: The Cardinals at times moved as if slogging through quicksand while going against the Tigers' zone defense.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "Instant analysis: No. 4 Louisville women's basketball overcomes shaky start in Clemson win," 7 Feb. 2018
Large companies are mired in their own quicksand of best practices and dependable revenue streams.

— ryan deluca, idahostatesman, "Virtual reality is the disruptive technology you’ve been waiting for | Idaho Statesman," 21 Feb. 2018
This was the Raiders sinking deeper in the quicksand, losing their fifth game in the past six.

— scott ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, "Raiders’ problems much deeper than turnovers," 29 Oct. 2017

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

First Known Use of quicksand

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

QUICKSAND Defined for English Language Learners

quicksand

noun

Definition of quicksand for English Language Learners

: deep, wet sand into which heavy objects sink easily
: a situation that is dangerous and difficult to escape from

QUICKSAND Defined for Kids

quicksand

noun quick·sand \ ˈkwik-ˌsand \

Definition of quicksand for Students

: a deep area of loose sand mixed with water into which heavy objects sink

Learn More about quicksand

See words that rhyme with quicksand Spanish Central: Translation of quicksand Nglish: Translation of quicksand for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quicksand

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up quicksand? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

quicksand

Definition of quicksand

Examples of quicksand in a Sentence

Recent Examples of quicksand from the Web

First Known Use of quicksand

QUICKSAND Defined for English Language Learners

quicksand

Definition of quicksand for English Language Learners

QUICKSAND Defined for Kids

quicksand

Definition of quicksand for Students

Learn More about quicksand

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

arrogate

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Noun + Verb Insult Generator

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

'Deprived' vs. 'Depraved'

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Name That Thing

Word Winder's CrossWinder

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word

quicksand

Definition of quicksand

Examples of quicksand in a Sentence

Recent Examples of quicksand from the Web

First Known Use of quicksand

QUICKSAND Defined for English Language Learners

quicksand

Definition of quicksand for English Language Learners

QUICKSAND Defined for Kids

quicksand

Definition of quicksand for Students

Learn More about quicksand

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word