predicament

noun

pre·​dic·​a·​ment pri-ˈdi-kə-mənt How to pronounce predicament (audio)
 sense 1 is usually  ˈpre-di-kə-
1
: the character, status, or classification assigned by a predication
specifically : category sense 1
2
: condition, state
especially : a difficult, perplexing, or trying situation

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The question is whether anyone can genuinely rescue Intel from its current predicament. Tim Bajarin, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024 Parents are faced with daily questions, dilemmas, and predicaments. Sari Hitchins, Parents, 29 Nov. 2024 Might the Martian’s personal predicament be mixed up with his team’s professional plight? Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Nov. 2024 Bipartisan legislators working together can harness the power of our free-market to solve our climate predicament. Susan Atkinson, Hartford Courant, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for predicament 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin praedicamentum, from praedicare — see predicate entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of predicament was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near predicament

Cite this Entry

“Predicament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predicament. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

predicament

noun
pre·​dic·​a·​ment pri-ˈdik-ə-mənt How to pronounce predicament (audio)
: a difficult, puzzling, or trying situation : fix

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