Definitions

predicament

[pri-dik-uh-muhnt, pred-i-kuh-muhnt] / prɪˈdɪk ə mənt, ˈprɛd ɪ kə mənt /

NOUN

difficult situation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

circumstance crisis deadlock dilemma hardship imbroglio impasse mess plight posture quagmire quandary

STRONG

asperity bind clutch condition corner drag emergency exigency fix hang-up hole jam juncture lot muddle pass perplexity pickle pinch position puzzle rigor scrape soup spot state strait vicissitude

WEAK

Catch-22 bad news deep water hot water large order rough go ticklish spot tight situation trouble

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantage agreement benefit blessing breakthrough solution

STRONG

boon closure ease good fortune peace success

WEAK

fix

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.

This is the peculiar predicament of Homo sapiens.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Bass is in a similar predicament, with a majority of voters viewing her unfavorably.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

After the split, McCartney even likened his predicament to astronauts returning from the Moon.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

Punch's predicament sparked huge interest online, spawning a devoted fanbase under the hashtag #HangInTherePunch.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

It was Captain Black who came with advice to Captain Piltchard and Captain Wren as they pitched about in their bewildering predicament.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Vocabulary lists containing predicament

In a Pickle: Words for When You're in Trouble

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

List 3

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World Without Fish

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!