quicksand

noun

quick·​sand ˈkwik-ˌsand 

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

Synonyms of quicksand

• trap
• tangle
• quagmire
• labyrinth
• morass
• maze
• web
• entanglement
• noose
• snare

Examples of quicksand in a Sentence

freed from the quicksands of war

mired in the quicksand of credit card debt

Recent Examples on the Web

For anyone who wants the contouring feel of memory foam without the full quicksand effect, the Saatva Loom & Leaf makes a strong case. —Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026

The National Park Service issued a warning about the presence of hazardous quicksand areas near the shoreline and at drainages in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which spans across both Arizona and Utah. —Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026

Rain made last year’s M3F a soggy mess with way too many opportunities for getting sucked into the mud like quicksand. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 6 Mar. 2026

When stepping near areas of quicksand, the ground may move, ripple, or subtly vibrate, indicating a lack of support below the surface. —Outside, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for quicksand

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

quicksand

noun

quick·​sand ˈkwik-ˌsand 

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