Quandary

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quandary \Quan"da*ry\, v. t.
     To bring into a state of uncertainty, perplexity, or
     difficulty. [Obs.] --Otway.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Quandary \Quan"da*ry\, n.; pl. {Quandaries}. [Prob. fr. OE.
     wandreth adversity, perplexity, Icel. wandr[ae][eth]i
     difficulty, trouble, fr. vandr difficult.]
     A state of difficulty or perplexity; doubt; uncertainty.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  quandary
       n 1: a situation from which extrication is difficult especially
            an unpleasant or trying one; "finds himself in a most
            awkward predicament"; "the woeful plight of homeless
            people" [syn: {predicament}, {plight}]
       2: state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a
          choice between equally unfavorable options [syn: {dilemma}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  47 Moby Thesaurus words for "quandary":
     Gordian knot, baffle, bafflement, bewilderment, bother,
     confoundment, confusion, crux, difficulty, dilemma, discomposure,
     disconcert, disconcertedness, disconcertion, disconcertment,
     disturbance, embarrassment, enigma, fix, jam, knot, knotty point,
     mystery, node, nodus, nonplus, oxymoron, paradox, perplexity,
     perturbation, pickle, plight, pons asinorum, poser, pother,
     predicament, problem, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle, scrape, stew,
     teaser, unassuredness, uncertainty, upset, vexed question