quicksand

noun

quick·sand ˈkwik-ˌsand

Synonyms of quicksand next

: sand readily yielding to pressure

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

: something that entraps or frustrates

lead poor people into consumerist quicksand—

Robert Wright

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 Now is the time to lift our nations from the quicksand of racial injustice, to the solid rock of brotherhood. —

Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 13 June 2023 The Sox are falling off a cliff, with a few sticks of dynamite strapped onto their backs, and into a vat of quicksand. —

Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023 As in the attraction, the paintings on the wall stretch as the room grows bigger, revealing horrible things such as alligators, quicksand and dynamite. —

Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 30 July 2023 In the fourth inning on Monday night, Sale’s chance at redemption drowned in quicksand. —

Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Apr. 2023 Cook Inlet Academy coach Josh Hawley’s message to his team at halftime of its quarterfinal game at the Alaska state 1A girls basketball tournament was simple: Stay out of the quicksand. —

Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Mar. 2023 This puts the Americans in the position of fighting a war that’s like quicksand. —

Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Apr. 2023 Rodriguez, the Orioles’ top pitching prospect, fell into quicksand in the fourth inning last weekend and couldn’t climb his way out — committing an error, throwing a wild pitch, walking two and allowing a double off the wall in the frame. —

Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2023 While some people may genuinely help, there's no point in sacrificing yourself to a person who is choosing to walk on quicksand. —

Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 17 Nov. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quicksand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.