as in dilemmas
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 predicaments
Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.
—
Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
Journeys that used to take entire seasons were being covered in single episodes, characters survived predicaments that once meant surefire death, and previously relevant factors like supplies, infrastructure, and alliances no longer mattered.
—Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
Victorian novels made good use of the predicaments of second and third sons, who had to become ministers or soldiers or schemers, and daughters who needed to be married off according to age.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Winning from behind is not sustainable, and the predicaments in which Chelsea have found themselves this week point to other problems.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Rustin has slyly given her script a focus on women’s needs and feelings, a welcome departure for a genre that usually is more concerned about the men’s predicaments.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
But this is just one of the many predicaments of writing memoir.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Pakistan Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said his nation was hoping for more of a consensus going into Tuesday’s vote given the funding predicaments and operational issues that have dogged the MSS.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
Journeys that used to take entire seasons were being covered in single episodes, characters survived predicaments that once meant surefire death, and previously relevant factors like supplies, infrastructure, and alliances no longer mattered.
—Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
Victorian novels made good use of the predicaments of second and third sons, who had to become ministers or soldiers or schemers, and daughters who needed to be married off according to age.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Winning from behind is not sustainable, and the predicaments in which Chelsea have found themselves this week point to other problems.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Rustin has slyly given her script a focus on women’s needs and feelings, a welcome departure for a genre that usually is more concerned about the men’s predicaments.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
But this is just one of the many predicaments of writing memoir.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Pakistan Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said his nation was hoping for more of a consensus going into Tuesday’s vote given the funding predicaments and operational issues that have dogged the MSS.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predicaments
Noun
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High-profile court cases exposed the ethical dilemmas around end-of-life care and patient self-determination.—
Jennifer McCurdy,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
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Barragán originally set out to find the man who scammed his mother by posing as a handsome American soldier, but now interrogates four of these young men, illuminating their psychological tactics, economic hardships and moral dilemmas.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Noun
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At Miznon, fresh pita is filled with a falafel burger, tangy pickles, tomato, sour cream, and green chili peppers.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Most varieties make crisp, firm pickles when picked at about 4 inches long.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predicaments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predicaments. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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