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View synonyms for predicament

predicament

[ pri-dik-uh-muhnt pred-i-kuh-muhnt ]

noun

  1. an unpleasantly difficult, perplexing, or dangerous situation.
  2. a class or category of logical or philosophical predication.
  3. Archaic. a particular state, condition, or situation.


predicament

/ prɪˈdɪkəmənt /

noun

  1. a perplexing, embarrassing, or difficult situation
  2. obsolete.
    ˈprɛdɪkəmənt logic one of Aristotle's ten categories of being
  3. archaic.
    a specific condition, circumstance, state, position, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • pre·dic·a·men·tal [pri-dik-, uh, -, men, -tl, pred-i-k, uh, -], adjective
  • pre·dica·mental·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of predicament1

First recorded in 1350–1400; 1580–90 predicament fordef 1; Middle English, from Late Latin praedicāmentum “something predicated, asserted,” derivative of praedicāre. See predicate, -ment
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Word History and Origins

Origin of predicament1

C14: from Late Latin praedicāmentum what is predicated, from praedicāre to announce, assert; see predicate
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Synonym Study

Predicament, dilemma, plight, quandary refer to unpleasant or puzzling situations. Predicament and plight stress more the unpleasant nature, quandary and dilemma the puzzling nature of the situation. Predicament and plight are sometimes interchangeable; plight, however, though originally meaning peril or danger, is seldom used today except laughingly: When his suit wasn't ready at the cleaners, he was in a terrible plight. Predicament, though likewise capable of being used lightly, may also refer to a really crucial situation: Stranded in a strange city without money, he was in a predicament. Dilemma, in popular use, means a position of doubt or perplexity in which one is faced by two equally undesirable alternatives: the dilemma of a hostess who must choose between offending her anti-drinking guests or disappointing those who expected cocktails. Quandary is the state of mental perplexity of one faced with a difficult situation: There seemed to be no way out of the quandary.
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Example Sentences

I don’t think that they were ever in that predicament to that degree.

One user in East Moline, Illinois, who described the predicament on a DSLReports forum in early January, said they paid for the 6TB plan "to make sure we wouldn't go over the cap" and had never used more than 4TB.

Part of the reason for this predicament is that we too often look at online threats through a partisan lens.

From Time

Specialists in clinical trials said the case of Novavax highlights the predicament in trying to develop a roster of multiple vaccines simultaneously to battle a global pandemic.

I think there are millions of others who are in the same predicament.

Their solidified friendship is one of the most touching details of the premiere, but it also puts Branson in a tricky predicament.

Mark Reay knows his predicament is very different from theirs.

Earlier this year, 78-year-old Walter Williams found himself in a similar predicament.

His predicament eventually become something of a cause célèbre, attracting even the attention of the Princess of Wales.

In a way, the roots of this predicament reach back hundreds of years.

“This is a distressing predicament for these young people,” thought Mr. Pickwick, as he dressed himself next morning.

Finally, his predicament became so awkward that an expression of distress crept into his face.

Of course, the smoke-signals, passed along by Dangerfield's chain of guards, were responsible for Matt's predicament.

Jogging on over the sand, I sat silent, cudgelling my brains for a solution of the disastrous predicament I had gotten into.

I went to the Junior, told him my predicament, and he kindly offered to wait for his debt, though the note was overdue.

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predicablepredicant