quandary
- noun
- /ˈkwɒndəri/
- She faced a quandary when deciding whether to accept the job offer or stay with her current employer.
- ethical quandary
- moral quandaries
- solution to the quandary
And out of that, characters come and moral quandaries are explored.
- And out of that, characters come and moral quandaries are explored.
- Oh yeah, it's a real quandary, isn't it?
- It's interesting to try to trap this robot in a real quandary.
- So it's not our biology that's determining us to be stuck in this this quandary.
- And then with the ethical quandary, you know, I think there it's important to look beyond just science.
- If you can't gin up empathy for the others and their quandaries with regard to this, you'll never be a leader of that group.
- So thank you, Lenny, and I hope that helps in your rhythmic quandary.
Examples
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Counselors find themselves in a quandary, and role conflict is often prevalent.
Academic text (1991) -
Many doctors caught in this quandary are simply closing healthy practices, leaving patients in the lurch.
Fiction book (1992) -
We're in a bit of a quandary right now.
-
I was kind of in a quandary.
-
And then with the ethical quandary, you know, I think there it's important to look beyond just science.
-
Social workers could have to solve this quandary. Will it have cost implications?
Academic text (2011) -
Furthermore, researchers are in a quandary about what their focus should be.
Academic text (1998) -
For the first time in my life, I faced a grave quandary.
Fiction book (2002) -
Congress is in a quandary when courts interpret a law narrowly; it must take a stand.
Academic text (1990) -
So this is a person who's really thinking profoundly about ethical moral quandaries and not coming to easy solutions, right?
Synonyms
A feeling of not being sure about something
A time when things are not organized and people do not know what to think or do
Not being sure about what will happen or what to do
A situation where you must choose between two or more bad options
A confusing problem or question that is hard to solve
A feeling of doubt or unease about whether you are doing the right thing
Not knowing what to do or say
A confused, disorganized situation where things are not in order
Short times when a person feels unsure about a choice or situation
Not being able to decide or act
A feeling of doubt and worry about what will happen
A feeling of doubt or low confidence
A feeling of doubt or uncertainty about something
A feeling of not being sure or confident about something
A feeling of doubt and puzzlement when a problem cannot be solved
A state of confusion where things are unclear or messy
A feeling of not thinking or acting clearly
With much hurry and disorder
A state of complete confusion and disorder
Antonyms
How Uncertain
Surface Forms
Etymology
Quandary probably comes from an old question word like Latin quando, meaning 'when', so imagine someone stuck asking 'when' or 'what should I do'. That's why a quandary is a situation of doubt or confusion when you do not know which choice to make.