as in dilemmas
a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices
I'm in a quandary about whether I should try to repair my stereo or buy a new one, even though I don't have the money to do either
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Recent Examples of quandaries
The life of a globe-trotting environmentalist is a breeding ground for moral quandaries.
—
Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Three little people’s romantic quandaries are indeed inextricable from the crazy world.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
In both Landman and Goliath, Thornton’s characters are flawed anti-heroes who struggle with substance abuse and the moral quandaries of doing what’s right.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
The Thunder and Spurs have the makings of a league-defining rivalry because their connection poses several existential quandaries.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Her sophomore album follows her acclaimed 2020 debut, catching us up on the philosophical quandaries and personal initiatives of keiyaA’s last half-decade.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Because both of these feats brought Witt into mental quandaries that illustrate where his head is on milestones and where his head is going in terms of where his program is going in its third year.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Kristen Arnett weighs in on this and other literary quandaries.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Plenty of other challenges and ethical quandaries will arise in the meantime.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Three little people’s romantic quandaries are indeed inextricable from the crazy world.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
In both Landman and Goliath, Thornton’s characters are flawed anti-heroes who struggle with substance abuse and the moral quandaries of doing what’s right.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
The Thunder and Spurs have the makings of a league-defining rivalry because their connection poses several existential quandaries.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Her sophomore album follows her acclaimed 2020 debut, catching us up on the philosophical quandaries and personal initiatives of keiyaA’s last half-decade.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Because both of these feats brought Witt into mental quandaries that illustrate where his head is on milestones and where his head is going in terms of where his program is going in its third year.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Kristen Arnett weighs in on this and other literary quandaries.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Plenty of other challenges and ethical quandaries will arise in the meantime.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quandaries
dilemmas
Noun
-
Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Braude grounds his narrative in the persistent dilemmas of journalism, especially the question of how to tell the story of a bewildering moment without the benefit of hindsight.—
Casey Schwartz,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quandaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quandaries. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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