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 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 At a house party full of caviar, one of the women, while immersed in a motherhood quandary, asks another if there’s something psychotic and untoward in her devouring piles of tiny eggs. New York Times, 3 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 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, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Lawmakers have noticed the dilemma in recent decades, resulting in a handful of states tweaking privacy laws.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Quandary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quandary. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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