conundrum
Americannoun
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a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words, as What is black and white and read all over? A newspaper.
-
anything that puzzles.
noun
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a riddle, esp one whose answer makes a play on words
-
a puzzling question or problem
Etymology
Origin of conundrum
First recorded in 1590–1600; pseudo-Latin word of obscure origin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He is dealing with another conundrum: whether showing his full résumé telegraphs his age.
That caused a conundrum for producers when the two shows came together.
From BBC
Ms Martin and her family are not the only ones facing this conundrum.
From BBC
The conundrum has even led to talk of massive space data centers that can leverage all-day solar power.
From Barron's
It is a conundrum facing many fast-growing economies, where plastic use and disposal has outpaced the government's ability to collect, sort and recycle.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
