as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain the conundrum of how an ancient people were able to build such massive structures without the benefit of today's knowledge and technology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conundrum These conundrums thread throughout an album trying to create some distance between the singer and the swashbuckling mind-set of 2023’s One Thing at a Time, where 35 of 36 songs touched on drinking. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 20 May 2025 Your questions and comments as well as gardening conundrums and successes, are always welcome. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 17 May 2025 The Triple Crown conundrum That, of course, only solves one problem. Dana O'Neil, New York Times, 16 May 2025 This is a common conundrum for football fans in the age of fantasy sports. David Hill, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for conundrum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conundrum
Noun
  • Fan speculation has centered on Kendrick Lamar or Jay-Z being the mystery man.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
  • Read more: The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time Another lingering mystery in Dept. Q is the identity of Sam Haig, a journalist with whom Merritt was romantically involved.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Bacon’s Castle was originally built by Arthur Allen, who remains something of an enigma to historians, according to the National Park Service.
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 2 June 2025
  • History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images To many observers of China, its top leader, Xi Jinping, is an enigma.
    Emily Feng, NPR, 28 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Conundrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conundrum. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on conundrum

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!