predicament
noun
pre·dic·a·ment
pri-ˈdi-kə-mənt 
sense 1 is usually ˈpre-di-kə-
1
: the character, status, or classification assigned by a predication
specifically
: category sense 1
Examples of predicament in a Sentence
The captain of archers fidgeted and coughed and rolled his eyes at his men, as if such cupidity and dishonor were an inevitable but minor aspect of the human predicament …
—
Michael Chabon, New York Times Magazine, 6 May 2007
We saw photographs that week of buildings burning, stunned onlookers, dust-covered firemen. Very few pictures conveyed the fact that people just like us, our fellow passengers on the subway, suddenly found themselves in a mortal predicament and many died horribly.
—Garrison Keillor, New York Times Book Review, 3 Sept. 2006
The President found himself in the backwash of earlier deals, and the demands of secrecy made his predicament the more vexing.
—Taylor Branch, Parting the Waters, 1988
The governor has gotten himself into quite a predicament.
I don't know how to get out of the predicament I'm in.
Michael Chabon, New York Times Magazine, 6 May 2007
We saw photographs that week of buildings burning, stunned onlookers, dust-covered firemen. Very few pictures conveyed the fact that people just like us, our fellow passengers on the subway, suddenly found themselves in a mortal predicament and many died horribly.
—Garrison Keillor, New York Times Book Review, 3 Sept. 2006
The President found himself in the backwash of earlier deals, and the demands of secrecy made his predicament the more vexing.
—Taylor Branch, Parting the Waters, 1988
The governor has gotten himself into quite a predicament.
I don't know how to get out of the predicament I'm in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, there are clearly two ways out of this predicament for Leeds United.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Is there a way out of our divided country’s seemingly hopeless predicament?
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
Houston and Harris County could find themselves in the same predicament that Jackson County did with the Kansas City Chiefs, as the taxpayers rejected proposals to renovate Arrowhead Stadium.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Ralph and Carson saw my predicament, turned, and roared back.
—Robert E. Houle, Outdoor Life, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predicament
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Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Is there a way out of our divided country’s seemingly hopeless predicament?
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
Houston and Harris County could find themselves in the same predicament that Jackson County did with the Kansas City Chiefs, as the taxpayers rejected proposals to renovate Arrowhead Stadium.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Ralph and Carson saw my predicament, turned, and roared back.
—Robert E. Houle, Outdoor Life, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predicament
Cite this Entry
“Predicament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predicament. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predicament
noun
pre·dic·a·ment
pri-ˈdik-ə-mənt
: a difficult, puzzling, or trying situation : fix
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