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Predicament: meaning, definitions and examples

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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.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • 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.

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.

Translations

Translations of the word "predicament" in other languages:

🇵🇹 apuro

🇮🇳 दुविधा

🇩🇪 Zwickmühle

🇮🇩 keadaan sulit

🇺🇦 скрутне становище

🇵🇱 kłopot

🇯🇵 苦境 (くきょう)

🇫🇷 situation difficile

🇪🇸 apuro

🇹🇷 çıkmaz

🇰🇷 곤경

🇸🇦 مأزق

🇨🇿 prekérní situace

🇸🇰 prekérna situácia

🇨🇳 困境 (kùnjìng)

🇸🇮 zagata

🇮🇸 vandræði

🇰🇿 қиындық

🇬🇪 ბრძოლა

🇦🇿 çətin vəziyyət

🇲🇽 apuro

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.