quandary en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈkwɒn.də.ɹi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈkwɑn.də.ɹi/ (General-American)
- /ˈkwɒn.dɹi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈkwɔn.dɹi/ (Australia)
- /kwɒnˈdɛə.ɹɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation, dated)
- /ˈkwɑn.dɹi/ (General-American)
- /ˈkwɔn.də.ɹi/ (Australia)
- /ˈkwɔn-/ (General-American)
Etymology
16th century. Origin unknown; perhaps a dialectal corruption (simulating a word of Latin origin with suffix -ary) of wandreth (“evil, plight, peril, adversity, difficulty”), from Middle English wandreth, from Old Norse vandræði (“difficulty, trouble”), from vándr (“difficult, requiring pains and care”).
Meanings
-
A state of not knowing what to decide; a state of difficulty or perplexity; a state of uncertainty, hesitation or puzzlement; a dilemma, a difficult decision or choice.
What a difficult quandary for a bright, talented child!
2000, Carol Ann Strip, Gretchen Hirsch, Helping Gifted Children Soar, page 208:To quote the oracle of Delphi, / Love thou thy neighbor as thyself, aye, / And hate him as thyself thou hatest. / There quandary is at its greatest.
1962, Robert Frost, “Quandary”, in In the Clearing, New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, page 92:As a Hitchin signalman once pointed out to me, when a regulating quandary arises concerning a fast-moving Class A train there is no time to consult Control and get their answer before the express is on one's doorstep.
1962 May, G. Freeman Allen, “Traffic control on the Great Northern Line”, in Modern Railways, page 343:The film explores Oppenheimer’s moral quandary over his role in creating the most destructive weapon ever made, but nuclear disarmament campaigners fear its power to persuade people of the existential threat posed by nuclear arms may be diminished by its focus on scientific achievement.
2023 July 21, Rachel Hall, “Anti-nuclear groups welcome Oppenheimer film but say it fails to depict true horror”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:But we may suppose that John has set his priorities in such a way that the quandary is spurious.
1995, Douglas N. Walton, Erik C. W. Krabbe, Commitment in Dialogue: Basic Concepts of Interpersonal Reasoning, page 54:The preservation of Judah's ignorance here is important, for the final turn of his painful moral education must be withheld for the quandary in which he will find himself later when he encounters Joseph as viceroy of Egypt without realizing his brother's identity.
1981, Robert Alter, “A Literary Approach to the Bible”, in The Art of Biblical Narrative, pages 11–12:Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.
2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, page 68:Then I would begin contemplating the next quandary: "Does the Torah say it's okay to portray a hooker, and is a heart of gold a mitigating factor?"
2004, Jennifer Traig, Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood, page 181:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| quandaries | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
doubt · indecision · dilemma
Synonyms
kettle · dire straits · dilemma · quagmire · sticky situation · fix · pickle · kettle of fish · dilemma · no-win situation · quandary · pinch · cauldron · difficulty · tight spot · hole · bind · spot · calvary · perplexity · ass in a sling · cross · pickle · predicament · bucket of syrup · uncertainty · doghouse · plight · trouble · spot of bother · cross to bear · predicament · Catch-22 · jam · sticky wicket · quandary · Sophie's choice · Hobson's choice · situation · ordeal · Morton's fork
Translations (45)
ru затрудне́ние (a state of not knowing what to decide) · nl onzekerheid (a state of not knowing what to decide) · nl dilemma (a state of not knowing what to decide) · de Zwickmühle (a state of not knowing what to decide) · sh nedoumica (a state of not knowing what to decide) · fr perplexité (a state of not knowing what to decide) · it dilemma (a state of not knowing what to decide) · et kimbatus (a state of not knowing what to decide) · ka გაჭირვებული მდგომარეობა (a state of not knowing what to decide) · sq pavendosmëri (a state of not knowing what to decide) · fr dilemme (a state of not knowing what to decide) · cs bezradnost (a state of not knowing what to decide) · de Dilemma (a state of not knowing what to decide) · cy dryswch (a state of not knowing what to decide) · mk недоумица (a state of not knowing what to decide) · hu tanácstalanság (a state of not knowing what to decide) · cs dilema (a state of not knowing what to decide) · hu dilemma (a state of not knowing what to decide) · pt dilema (a state of not knowing what to decide) · cs rozpaky (a state of not knowing what to decide) · fr incertitude (a state of not knowing what to decide) · nl besluiteloosheid (a state of not knowing what to decide) · bg затруднение (a state of not knowing what to decide) · fr embarras (a state of not knowing what to decide) · ka დილემა (a state of not knowing what to decide) · ka გართულება (a state of not knowing what to decide) · ca dilema (a state of not knowing what to decide) · mi harapukatanga (a state of not knowing what to decide) · et kitsikus (a state of not knowing what to decide) · pt indecisão (a state of not knowing what to decide) · cy cyfyng-gyngor (a state of not knowing what to decide) · cy penbleth (a state of not knowing what to decide) · ru недоуме́ние (a state of not knowing what to decide) · mi ngākau kōnatunatu (a state of not knowing what to decide) · fi pulma (a state of not knowing what to decide) · mi matawaenga (a state of not knowing what to decide) · de Verlegenheit (a state of not knowing what to decide) · es disyuntiva (a state of not knowing what to decide) · sh недоумица (a state of not knowing what to decide) · de verfahrene Situation (a state of not knowing what to decide) · ru затруднительное положе́ние (a state of not knowing what to decide) · bg дилема (a state of not knowing what to decide) · pt impasse (a state of not knowing what to decide) · eo dilemo (a state of not knowing what to decide) · sq dyshim (a state of not knowing what to decide)