1
as in dilemmas
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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2
as in tangles
something that catches and holds
a protracted custody dispute that became a judicial quagmire
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Recent Examples of quagmires
Jeane used the example not to say that any of the three were in danger of closing, but to point out one of the enrollment quagmires in the district that covers 70 square miles.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Despite a few diversions along the way, Minney keeps returning to craft as a solution to fashion’s many quagmires.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2026
But these occupations soon became bloody quagmires, with hundreds of military and tens of thousands of civilian casualties.
—
Mo Rocca,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
But this is the wrong time for political sideshows or ethical quagmires.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Despite a few diversions along the way, Minney keeps returning to craft as a solution to fashion’s many quagmires.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2026
But these occupations soon became bloody quagmires, with hundreds of military and tens of thousands of civilian casualties.
—
Mo Rocca,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
But this is the wrong time for political sideshows or ethical quagmires.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quagmires
Noun
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Instead of adding more junk to your drawers, these clever gadgets actually solve kitchen dilemmas we’re all faced with.
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To implement ethicsmaxxing, organizations should adopt clear codes of ethics and engage in regular discussions on ethical dilemmas.
Noun
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This Levoit vacuum just dropped under $200, and its impressive ability to pick up hair without any tangles is a pet owner’s dream.
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Tuohy found that only our top overall robovac pick, the Matic, did a better job on hard surfaces, while the Saros 20’s DuoDivide brush is designed to resist hair tangles, reducing the amount of maintenance required.
Noun
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Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.
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The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.
Noun
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This is because the infrastructure of the city traps in all of the heat that built up during the day, thus preventing a normal nocturnal cooldown seen in non-urban settings.
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One of the biggest traps organizations fall into is assuming employees already know what behaviors are valued.
Noun
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Those with the most pickles by weight will face off for the title of Baron of Bobbing.
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Layer the onions, 2 to 3 bacon pieces, and 2 to 3 pickles over the patty.
Noun
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Zelizer said Trump’s financial entanglements might be the most monarchical part of his administration.
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The Republic’s first decades were shaped by the rivalry between the British and French empires, and George Washington used his farewell address to warn his countrymen against permanent foreign entanglements.
Noun
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For millions of years between 350 and 280 million years ago (about 30 million years before the first dinosaurs), these croc-like animals ruled the rivers, swamps, and lakes of the ancient world.
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These many watering holes are reflective of the Lone Star state's varied geographic regions, from bald cypress swamps to mountainous desert lakes.
Noun
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These familiar, turbulent morasses of swirling droplets continue to stymie scientists.
Cite this Entry
“Quagmires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quagmires. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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