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Examples of quandary in a Sentence
Williams's quandary is not unlike that faced by other urban executives who have had to wrestle with a deeply rooted power structure. The problem is especially acute for African American mayors. They are expected to serve as sentries, protecting their cities' black communities and staving off so-called white encroachment.
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Jonetta Rose Barras, Washington Post, 15 June 2003
For a sticky philosophical quandary, the questions are pretty simple: am I a clerk charged with selling college degrees or am I involved in a more meaningful experience? Part of me says that no argument is more worthy of my attention.
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Lynne Drury Lerych, Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2001
… the inevitable economic quandary that faces a people in the transition from slavery to freedom, and especially those who make that change amid hate and prejudice, lawlessness and ruthless competition.
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W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, 1903
The unexpected results of the test have created a quandary for researchers.
I'm in a quandary about whether I should try to repair my stereo or buy a new one, even though I don't have the money to do either.
Recent Examples on the Web
The predictably infuriating nature of those earlier scenes have all been building to these later passages, which now force this family into a heartbreaking and unexpected quandary.
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Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025
Ethical quandaries, technical limits and enemies' shifting tactics highlight the importance of using AI solutions carefully and thoughtfully.
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Rohan Pinto, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Indeed, Peter’s graduation to the field is filled with physical threats as well as ethical quandaries that muddy his black-and-white decisionmaking from his last adventure.
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Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025
Many of the show’s characters face quandaries that ultimately lead to growth.
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Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
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Word History
Etymology
origin unknown
First Known Use
1579, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing quandary
Dictionary Entries Near quandary
Cite this Entry
“Quandary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quandary. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
quandary
noun
quan·da·ry
ˈkwän-d(ə-)rē
plural quandaries
: a state of confusion or doubt : dilemma
in a quandary about which to choose
More from Merriam-Webster on quandary
Nglish: Translation of quandary for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of quandary for Arabic Speakers
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