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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tangles
something that catches and holds
a protracted custody dispute that became a judicial quagmire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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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
-
The doctor–patient relationship is also frequently beset by dilemmas and decisions beyond the pathology at hand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Still, even after the election, Magyar has remained relentlessly on message—which is to say, vague and tight-lipped, leaving several inconvenient dilemmas unaddressed.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
For dogs and cats, the Hertzko Double-Sided Dog and Cat Dematting Comb has teeth designed for intense tangles and matting.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
-
Scratched carpets are buried under tangles of wires and computing gear.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
The problem is, when your side lack intensity, aggression and cohesion, those traps are easy to spot and avoid.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Diversions and traps are also triggered through the watch, opening up creative routes through missions.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The Butcher's Grind Cheeseburger is topped with cheddar cheese and pickles, and the Italian Sausage comes loaded with onions and vinegar peppers on a hoagie roll.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
Beer drinkers have been putting pickles and pouring pickle juice into brews for a long time.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
This novel of exile and memory chronicles the life of Sufien, a Palestinian man displaced as a child by the Nakba, whose story unfolds across continents and encompasses entanglements with a broad range of characters.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
My guiding principle would be protecting American interests while avoiding unnecessary entanglements—making decisions grounded in facts, realism, and a clear understanding of the regional, economic, and security implications involved.—
Rachel Royster
May 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The ‘banter’ era settled in, with every collapse, every disappointment, every failure amplified in the fever swamps of social media.—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
-
Whistling warblers and rat-tat-tatting woodpeckers accompanied the splish-splash of our kayak paddles through the Cache River Wetlands—one of the northernmost bald cypress swamps in the United States.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Alex Smalley at least gets a head start thanks to his sublime play on the back nine at Aronimink Golf Club, with six birdies over his last 10 holes for a 2-under 68 and a two-shot lead.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
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If your tree is in a lawn, poke 6-inch deep holes around the drip line and pour the fertilizer into them.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quagmires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quagmires. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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