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 uncertainty reflects the unique predicament for Senate Democrats. David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Mar. 2025 Alec Baldwin suffers from a classic New York predicament. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 6 Mar. 2025 In this context, Congress, the administration, and DOGE face a predicament where cutting rules alone isn’t enough. Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 The imbalance between the scarce supply of AI talent and the acute demand for it at Big Tech companies and startups alike, poses a looming predicament for the fast-growing AI industry. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Predicament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predicament. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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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