1
as in predicament
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
the party was once again facing its quadrennial quagmire: the candidate sufficiently liberal to win the nomination would be too liberal for the general election
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Recent Examples of quagmire
The ongoing debate about whether the Iran war will become a quagmire misses the point.
—
Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
DeJanovich, who is the a AFGE Local 1260 Chief Administrative Point of contact in Nevada, said she is frustrated with Congress for not moving forward and ending the quagmire over funding.
—Sabina Ghebremedhin, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
But the quagmire is made worse by the question of what audiences want in an age of abundant at-home entertainment options, tighter budgets and general fatigue from the merciless grind of modern life.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
But if the war turns into an exhausting quagmire, China could gain the upper hand over the United States in the long term.
—Craig Singleton, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quagmire
Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
DeJanovich, who is the a AFGE Local 1260 Chief Administrative Point of contact in Nevada, said she is frustrated with Congress for not moving forward and ending the quagmire over funding.
—Sabina Ghebremedhin, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
But the quagmire is made worse by the question of what audiences want in an age of abundant at-home entertainment options, tighter budgets and general fatigue from the merciless grind of modern life.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
But if the war turns into an exhausting quagmire, China could gain the upper hand over the United States in the long term.
—Craig Singleton, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quagmire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quagmire
Noun
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Baby boomers have been getting plenty of blame for this predicament in recent years, but some defenders say it’s not entirely warranted.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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Companies like TikTok and Snap are in the same predicament.—
Jennifer Elias,Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The lunchtime sandwich that reigns supreme is undoubtedly the mushroom dip, with a tangle of Long Beach oyster mushrooms confited in oil, then roasted until their edges become crisp and curl in the pizza oven.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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Inside a sourdough bun was an egg square folded with veggies and a tangle of arugula; sesame seeds formed a crisp outer layer on the bun.—
Cesar Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Such local sites focus on a small group of people who happened to live in a certain place at a certain time—and who, for that fleeting moment, came to stand in for the dilemmas of the nation at large.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
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For the present, we’re saddled with the unwieldy dilemma of there being eight major Democratic candidates and just two Republicans.—
George Skelton,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Oil and gas infuse the pores of sandstone; layers of impermeable caprock trap it inside.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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When insurers pull out or double their rates, the resulting lack of affordable coverage stalls recovery and traps families in deep financial pits.—
Carlos Curbelo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Serve over rice with yogurt and achaar (or whatever pickle-y thing is around).—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
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Over the decades, children have given up everything from sunflower seeds to pickles.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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When their news anchor (Peter Finch) has a nervous breakdown on the air, suddenly their ratings turn around, bringing on a moral morass only some of them are prepared to face.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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And that concludes our journey through the morass.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Post-Order 66 Jedi are often just lesser versions of Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda, skulking around in swamps and deserts, but this duo can't seem to stay away from the action.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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Tiger Bay State Forest At more than 28,000 acres, this massive state forest is home to trails, swamps, pine islands, and numerous species of birds and wildlife, like Florida black bears and bald eagles.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And yet those tracks are laid on quicksand.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Quagmire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quagmire. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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