Quagmire: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is often used to describe a complex, hazardous, or sticky situation. It can also refer to a soft, muddy piece of land, but it is more commonly used metaphorically.

• The negotiations quickly turned into a political quagmire.
• He found himself in a financial quagmire after the unexpected expenses.

A swamp is a type of wetland that is frequently inundated with water and often contains trees. It is commonly used to describe being overwhelmed or inundated with something, and can have negative connotations.

• The Florida Everglades are one of the largest swamps in the world.
• I'm swamped with work and can't take on any more projects right now.

A morass is a wet area of muddy ground, but it is often used to describe a messy, complicated situation from which it is hard to escape. It carries a somewhat negative connotation.

• The legal case became a morass of conflicting evidence and testimonies.
• He was stuck in a morass of paperwork and couldn't finish his report on time.

A bog is a wetland area with spongy ground, often acidic and covered in moss. This word is used both literally and metaphorically to describe something that is stuck or difficult to progress through.

• The soldiers had to march through miles of treacherous bog.
• The project is bogged down by bureaucratic red tape.

A marsh is a type of wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants rather than woody plants. This term is typically used in ecological or geographical discussions.

• The national park features several beautiful marshes teeming with wildlife.
• Birds were flying over the marsh, searching for food.