quicksand

noun

quick·​sand ˈkwik-ˌsand 

1

: sand readily yielding to pressure

especially : a deep mass of loose sand mixed with water into which heavy objects readily sink

2

: something that entraps or frustrates

lead poor people into consumerist quicksand

—Robert Wright

Synonyms

• entanglement
• mesh(es)
• morass
• net
• noose
• quagmire
• snare
• tanglement
• toil(s)
• trap
• web

Examples of quicksand in a Sentence

freed from the quicksands of war

mired in the quicksand of credit card debt

Recent Examples on the Web

Chicago and Illinois are sinking in a quicksand of pension debt. —Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 5 Dec. 2024

The firing pushes Edwin and Gabriela further into a quicksand of poverty. —Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2024

Keeping it on the outside in an advisory and advocacy role would protect it from getting sucked into the bureaucratic quicksand and avoid the irony of creating another federal agency in the name of shrinking the size of the government. —Nolan Finley, The Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2024

Jen and Lilia — now seemingly under someone’s (Teen’s?) spell, eyes glowing a frosty, neon blue — throw Agatha into the quicksand. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

quicksand

noun

quick·​sand ˈkwik-ˌsand 

: a deep mass of loose sand mixed with water into which heavy objects sink