WordValeconundrum
a confusing and difficult problem
In more detail
1. (noun) a confusing and difficult problem or question
2. (noun) a riddle or puzzle, especially one told as a joke
Examples
- 1. The team faced a real conundrum: they needed more money but couldn't raise prices.
- 2. The teacher posed a conundrum to the class: 'What has hands but cannot clap?'
How to use conundrum
Conundrum refers to a problem or question that is both perplexing and difficult to resolve, often involving a paradox or contradiction. It can be more playful than 'problem' or 'dilemma' and often suggests something intellectually challenging rather than merely obstructive. The riddle sense (meaning 2) is less common in modern usage but still appears in historical or literary contexts.
Common phrases
- a difficult conundrum
- face a conundrum
- solve a conundrum
- pose a conundrum
- the central conundrum
- a thorny conundrum
Synonyms
puzzle · riddle · enigma · mystery · dilemma
Word family
conundrums (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'conundrum' too loosely for any problem; it specifically implies confusion and difficulty in finding a solution, not just any obstacle or issue.
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