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
But this is the wrong time for political sideshows or ethical quagmires.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quagmires
Noun
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The dilemmas of post-revolutionary life—in particular, the gap between fulsome propaganda and flawed realities—were efficiently captured, as usual, in the popular genre known as the anekdot.—
Benjamin Nathans
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
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In the plot, a fictional president of Italy faces moral and ethical dilemmas.—
Marcelo Cajueiro,
Variety,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And not just vague signs, actual amyloid plaques and tau tangles, the same hallmarks seen in human patients.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
14 Oct. 2025
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There are piles of rubble and tangles of cable.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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Is River in desperate need of some R&R, or is everyone else projecting their own predicaments onto him?—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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GahnSmith is joined by Jay Frandsen, a Parks ecosystem scientist conducting water surveys and checking camera traps along the journey.—
Chloe Berge,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
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Even experienced users can fall for these traps.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These mammals are found across North America, residing in every kind of habitat from hardwood forests to coastal plains to swamps.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
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As their name suggests, annual killifish appear for a brief period of the year in floodplains, wetlands, swamps and other temporary aquatic environments.—
Lauren Liebhaber
September 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The characters are diverse and multifaceted, grappling with issues like identity, faith, romantic entanglements and more.—
Deena ElGenaidi,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Unexpected Christmas the film revolves around the romantic entanglements, family secrets, old rivalries — and love — that ensue when the Scott family comes together for a holiday reunion.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Avoid an acid overload of tart and tangy (pickles and citrus), a bold flavor competition, sweet and funky flavors colliding (fruity jams and aged cheeses), and a clash of spicy meats and cheeses with delicate fruits and accompaniments.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Oct. 2025
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Eggs, pickles, pimientos, and plenty of Yukon golds are the heroes of this praise-worthy potato salad.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The fit also seemed perfect for both sides, as the Eagles were seeking to fill any holes on the defensive lines.—
Cameron Belcher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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Inside the old asylum, plaster peeled from mottled walls and holes gaped in the ceiling.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quagmires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quagmires. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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