quandary
pronunciation
How to pronounce quandary in British English:
UK [ˈkwɒndəri]
How to pronounce quandary in American English:
US [ˈkwɑndəri]
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- Noun:
- a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
- state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
Word Origin
- quandary
- quandary: [16] Quandary may have originated as a quasi-latinism. One of its early forms was quandare, which suggests that it may have been a pseudo-Latin infinitive verb, coined on the fanciful notion that Latin quandō ‘when’ was a first person present singular form.
- quandary (n.)
- "state of perplexity," 1570s, of unknown origin, perhaps a quasi-Latinism based on Latin quando "when? at what time?; at the time that, inasmuch," pronominal adverb of time, related to qui "who" (see who). Originally accented on the second syllable.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Scientific publishing in china is in a quandary .
- 2. All this leaves china in a quandary .
- 3. More grudgingly , they also understand his quandary in afghanistan .
- 4. I 'm sure many people are in a similar quandary .
- 5. How to attract new customers to your product and website is the constant quandary of many businesses , small or large .