Definition of quandarynext
as in dilemma
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quandary Lenten fish fries are inviting for many reasons but can be a quandary for people with heart and other health issues. John Shumway, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026 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 Then comes the quarterback quandary. Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quandary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quandary
dilemma
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, 30 Mar. 2026
  • For the present, we’re saddled with the unwieldy dilemma of there being eight major Democratic candidates and just two Republicans.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Quandary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quandary. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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