zugzwang

Examples

• All

• You know what a zugzwang is?

  The Lost City (2005)

• In chess, it's called Zugzwang, when the only viable move is not to move.

  Mr. Nobody (2009)

• In chess, a player can find themselves in a zugzwang where every possible move will worsen their position.

• During the meeting, the team faced a zugzwang as every proposed plan seemed to create more problems.

Synonyms

D

dilemma

vszugzwang

199 4.2

A situation where you must choose between two or more bad options

specifies that any move worsens the situation rather than just being difficult

C

Catch-22

vszugzwang

• Informal

21 9.6

A situation where you cannot win because rules block every choice

is about every move worsening the situation rather than contradictory rules

N

no-win situation

vszugzwang

12 5.3

A situation where every choice leads to a bad result

frames the problem as making any action worse, not just failing

D

doomed if you do, doomed if you don't

vszugzwang

• Informal

1 9.3

Any choice you make leads to bad results

focuses on actions that actively make the situation worse

C

caught between the hammer and the anvil

vszugzwang

• Informal

1 9.0

To have to choose between two equally bad options while people on both sides pressure you

involves moves that make matters worse, not only choosing between pressures

D

damned if one does and damned if one doesn't

vszugzwang

• NSFW

9.9

A situation where any choice leads to trouble or criticism

emphasizes that every choice automatically makes matters worse

Antonyms

O

opportunity

∞ 2.0

A time or situation that lets you do something important

A

advantage

∞ 2.8

Something that helps a person do better than others

Surface Forms

Etymology