morass

[ muh-ras ]

noun

1. a tract of low, soft, wet ground.
2. a marsh or bog.
3. marshy ground.
4. any confusing or troublesome situation, especially one from which it is difficult to free oneself; entanglement.

morass

/ məˈræs /

noun

1. a tract of swampy low-lying land
2. a disordered or muddled situation or circumstance, esp one that impedes progress

Word History and Origins

Origin of morass¹

1645–55; < Dutch moeras, alteration (by association with moer marsh; moor ¹ ) of Middle Dutch maras < Old French mareis < Germanic. See marsh

Word History and Origins

Origin of morass¹

C17: from Dutch moeras, ultimately from Old French marais marsh

Example Sentences

Before wading into the legal morass these lawsuits are attempting to navigate, let’s take a quick look at how the technology is developed and why copyright has become an issue.

From Los Angeles Times

They rotate and flutter, their disturbing reflection into mirrored infinity entangled with your own gawking reflection, sinking into a morass of street waste.

From Los Angeles Times

Many of those who did reach the U.S, are stuck in an immigration morass.

From Los Angeles Times

The government’s openness to the topic has Ufologists worried that a fragile consensus might end up in the culture-war morass — or pernicious conspiracies.

From Los Angeles Times

But by Act 3, it’s a morass, a jumble of events barreling toward disaster.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• chaos
• quagmire
• tangle