quandary

noun

quan·da·ry ˈkwän-d(ə-)rē

plural quandaries

Synonyms of quandary next

: a state of perplexity or doubt

Examples of quandary in a Sentence

Williams's quandary is not unlike that faced by other urban executives who have had to wrestle with a deeply rooted power structure. The problem is especially acute for African American mayors. They are expected to serve as sentries, protecting their cities' black communities and staving off so-called white encroachment. —

Jonetta Rose Barras, Washington Post, 15 June 2003

For a sticky philosophical quandary, the questions are pretty simple: am I a clerk charged with selling college degrees or am I involved in a more meaningful experience? Part of me says that no argument is more worthy of my attention. —

Lynne Drury Lerych, Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2001

… the inevitable economic quandary that faces a people in the transition from slavery to freedom, and especially those who make that change amid hate and prejudice, lawlessness and ruthless competition. —

W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, 1903

The unexpected results of the test have created a quandary for researchers. 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.

Recent Examples on the Web The technology is close enough to reality that the Food and Drug Administration has decided to convene a two-day panel starting Tuesday to discuss how to best evaluate safety and effectiveness, as well as the ethical quandaries in running clinical trials. —

Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 19 Sep. 2023 Over the past year, putting the ordinance into practice has been hampered by delays and legal quandaries. —

Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023 The research could also cause ethical quandaries if the pigs were brought to term and the human cells got into their brains and reproductive cells, the team writes. —

Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023 As attendees soon found out, the answer to all of these quandaries was not a definitive no: There were many throwbacks. —

Ian Malone, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2023 Enter my answers to these quandaries: a vibrant green Aji Verde Pasta Salad and a light, zesty Chimichurri Pasta Salad. —

Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023 Like so many quandaries, yours involves both empirical and moral considerations. —

Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023 Lauren Goode: Well, a case involving missing AirPods in Illinois culminated in this exact quandary earlier in August. —

Lauren Goode, WIRED, 24 Aug. 2023 For example, the new technology would answer personal questions about how to navigate a sensitive conversation with a friend or ethical quandaries. —

Paolo Confino, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quandary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.