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Predicament Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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predicament

[prɪˈdɪkəmənt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

difficult situation

A predicament is a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.

Synonyms

dilemma, pickle, plight, quandary.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
predicament

Use to describe a difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to get out of.

  • She found herself in a terrible predicament when her car broke down in the middle of nowhere
dilemma

Use when someone faces a difficult choice between two or more equally undesirable options.

  • He faced a moral dilemma: should he lie to protect his friend or tell the truth?
quandary

Use when someone is uncertain or confused about what to do in a particular situation.

  • She was in a quandary over how to balance her work and personal life
plight

Use to emphasize a very unfortunate or miserable situation, often to elicit sympathy.

  • The plight of the homeless in the city has attracted the attention of several charities
pickle

Use informally to describe a troublesome situation, often one that is somewhat humorous.

  • I'm in a bit of a pickle; I forgot my wallet at home and can't pay for lunch

Examples of usage

  • He found himself in a predicament.
  • She was in a predicament and didn't know what to do.
  • The team faced a predicament when their captain got injured.
  • The predicament they were in seemed impossible to solve.
  • The predicament only got worse as time went on.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

  • Many classic stories feature protagonists facing a predicament that tests their character and resourcefulness.
  • Authors like Shakespeare and Dickens often used such dilemmas to highlight moral choices and human behavior.
  • In modern narratives, the 'love triangle' is a popular predicament that creates tension in romantic plots.

Psychology

  • Facing a predicament can lead to stress and anxiety, as individuals often feel trapped without clear options.
  • Research in decision-making shows that people in tough situations often revert to their gut instincts, which can lead to varying outcomes.
  • The 'predicament effect' describes how the context of a challenge can alter a person's perception of their choices.

Natural Sciences

  • In environmental studies, species can find themselves in a predicament when their habitat is altered, leading to survival challenges.
  • Predicaments in ecosystems often arise from human activities, like pollution, impacting biodiversity.
  • Ecologists study how organisms adapt to predicaments in their environments to develop conservation strategies.

Everyday Life

  • Common predicaments include being late to an important meeting or forgetting key information during a presentation.
  • Social situations, like needing to choose between friends' conflicting plans, can create personal dilemmas.
  • Financial dilemmas, such as being low on funds before payday, are relatable predicaments many face.

Origin of 'predicament'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'praedicamentum', meaning 'something predicated or predicted'.
  • In medieval philosophy, it referred to categories of existence, showing how thoughts can impact real-life situations.
  • It entered English around the 14th century, initially in a more philosophical context before evolving to its current usage.

The word 'predicament' originated in the late 16th century from the Latin word 'praedicamentum', which means 'thing asserted'. Over time, the meaning evolved to represent a difficult or challenging situation.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,303, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.