Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
name
A locality in the Temora council area, central New South Wales, Australia.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A state of not knowing what to decide; a state of difficulty or perplexity; a state of uncertainty, hesitation or puzzlement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: perplexity, pickle, predicament, uncertainty
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A dilemma, a difficult decision or choice.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: dilemma, Catch-22, Hobson's choice, Morton's fork, no-win situation, quandary, Sophie's choice, ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary, cauldron, cross, cross to bear, difficulty, dire straits, doghouse, fix, hole, jam, kettle, kettle of fish, ordeal, pickle, pinch, plight, predicament, quagmire, situation, spot, spot of bother, sticky situation, sticky wicket, tight spot, trouble
Antonyms: none provided
noun
state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: dilemma
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: perplexity
Narrower terms: double bind
noun
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: predicament, plight
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: difficulty
Narrower terms: care, corner, box, hot water
History
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”).
Across languages
49 source translations are retained for this English entry.
