English vocabulary · C1
Quandary
/ˈkwɒn.dər.i/ · n.
It means a situation where you must choose, but every choice feels wrong or hard.
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Example sentences
- She was in a quandary about which job to take.
- He faced a quandary when both friends needed help.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- quando — when (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- DILEMMA (two equally difficult choices compete)
- PREDICAMENT (a difficult situation offers no easy exit)
- BIND (trapped between two bad options)
Lesson notes
Quandary. It means a situation where you must choose, but every choice feels wrong or hard.
Similar words are dilemma, predicament, and bind. Use quandary when you feel stuck and cannot pick a good option.
She was in a quandary about which job to take. He faced a quandary when both friends needed help.
From Latin. Quando means when. A quandary is that frozen moment when you ask: what do I do now?