Definitions

can of worms

NOUN

complicated situation

Synonyms

WEAK

Gordian knot Pandora's box complex problem complexity complication difficult situation difficulty dog's breakfast entanglement hard nut to crack headache hornet's nest hot water mare's nest mess predicament problem quagmire quandary snafu snake pit snarl trouble troublesome problem unpredictable situation

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.

One of the theater’s more prominent sociopaths gets a makeover in “Hedda,” director Nia DaCosta’s reimagining of “Hedda Gabler,” with an approach that opens up the play—and an interpretive can of worms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

Mistakes, yes – but honest ones, only for the emergence of the Coote video to reopen a very large can of worms, presenting a crisis for Webb and PGMOL.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2024

That’s a can of worms for future parasite research.

From Science Magazine • May 7, 2024

Could allowing people to sue for these kinds of mob-like statements open a proverbial can of worms?

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2024

I pressed my mouth into a line, wondering if I’d opened a can of worms.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

can of worms

Example Sentences

Related Words