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
This contradicts the precedent set by prior direct payments, such as the Covid-19 stimulus checks, which were heavily weighted toward lower-income Americans and could create a political quagmire for Trump.
—
Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
The main conservative candidate, Kim Moon Soo, has struggled to win over moderate, swing voters as his People Power Party remains in a quagmire of internal feuding over how to view Yoon's actions.
—Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
The Squadron 42 quagmire The initial concept behind Squadron 42 was a tutorial segment that would gently introduce players to the game's mechanics and feed them some in-game rewards upon completion.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 June 2025
Instead of being clubbed with China, Russia and the Western powers, India was in a terrifying new quagmire.
—Mujib Mashal, New York Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for quagmire
Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
The main conservative candidate, Kim Moon Soo, has struggled to win over moderate, swing voters as his People Power Party remains in a quagmire of internal feuding over how to view Yoon's actions.
—Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
The Squadron 42 quagmire The initial concept behind Squadron 42 was a tutorial segment that would gently introduce players to the game's mechanics and feed them some in-game rewards upon completion.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 June 2025
Instead of being clubbed with China, Russia and the Western powers, India was in a terrifying new quagmire.
—Mujib Mashal, New York Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for quagmire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quagmire
Noun
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Christopher Boyle of New York County Defender Services and one of Bernier’s lawyers said anecdotally there are many others on Rikers Island in a similar predicament.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
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Rodriguez discussed Rose's predicament in an interview on New York City's WFAN radio last week, and made a startling claim about baseball's all-time hits leader.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
Noun
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About a dozen streets on it bore names; the rest was a tangle of lines.—
The New York Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 June 2025
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That development was paused amid a tangle of lawsuits in 2023 and 2024, but is moving forward after the cases were resolved in November and March.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2025
Noun
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This poses a dilemma since water that is applied rolls down the sides of the container without soaking the soil.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
19 June 2025
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Thus far, India has escaped this dilemma because successive U.S. presidential administrations have deliberately overlooked these dalliances.—
ASHLEY J. TELLIS,
Foreign Affairs,
17 June 2025
Noun
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Researchers reviewing camera trap footage from a remote island off Panama found that a group of adolescent capuchin monkeys were routinely kidnapping baby howler monkeys and carrying them around like accessories.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
18 June 2025
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One of the key challenges for companies is avoiding the trap of performative activism—actions that appear supportive but lack meaningful impact.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Stir together mayonnaise, pickle juice, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
30 June 2025
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Served with baby potatoes, bread, and mixed pickles, a fondue is the perfect way to warm up after a day on the slopes or hiking through the valley.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
22 June 2025
Noun
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There are no pairs of tidily poetic contradictions, but a morass of inner conflict, uncertainty, pain, and relief.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
27 June 2025
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Tax administration is often written off as a bureaucratic morass—a neutral, technocratic function made necessary by the modern state but best kept as small as possible.—
Andrew Leahey,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Habitats can change, too; should someone drain that Sudbury shrub swamp, the Appalachian Brown would disappear.—
Lewis Hyde,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
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This prehistoric swamp will enchant you even before the mind-melting sunset begins.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Two-thirds of the season remains, and the quicksand and trap doors will eventually get someone, if only because that’s how pitching works.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
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However, these systems become organizational quicksand in volatile environments where exceptions become the rule.—
Nate Bennett,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quagmire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quagmire. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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