as in dilemma
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
if you had told the truth in the first place, we wouldn't be in this predicament
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of predicament
And with that comes a miserable, complicated, and ironically unenviable predicament for general manager Mike Grier.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Her predicament reconnects her with her professional wrestler father (Nick Offerman) and former Hooters waitress mom, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 27 Dec. 2025
The securitization cycle has placed Iran, the region, and NATO countries, particularly the United States, in a complex and self-reinforcing predicament.
—Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2025
Was that influenced by your legal predicament?
—Hernan Lopez, Variety, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predicament
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Her predicament reconnects her with her professional wrestler father (Nick Offerman) and former Hooters waitress mom, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 27 Dec. 2025
The securitization cycle has placed Iran, the region, and NATO countries, particularly the United States, in a complex and self-reinforcing predicament.
—Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2025
Was that influenced by your legal predicament?
—Hernan Lopez, Variety, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predicament
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predicament
Noun
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Pay attention, however, and the connection between Mary and Boo becomes more tender as their dilemma deepens, as does the relationship between Mary and her well-meaning, if totally embarrassing, mom.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
This feels like an apt dilemma to invoke while critiquing a book about an editor.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The resort also has a gorgeous, airy gym with those same views of the volcano, tennis and pickle-ball courts, and solid ocean programming that includes sunrise paddles in the resort’s outrigger canoe, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and diving.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
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Serve it with or without a bun plus your favorite toppings like pickles, slaw, and extra sauce.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predicament.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predicament. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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