Meaning
A predicament is a difficult, unpleasant, or challenging situation that is hard to get out of. It often implies being stuck or trapped in a problem with limited good options.
Grammar and Usage
- Part of speech: Noun (countable, usually singular)
- Used with articles: a predicament, the predicament
- Common structure: be in a predicament, find oneself in a predicament, face a predicament
Common Phrases
- be in a predicament – to be in trouble or difficulty
- find oneself in a predicament – to unexpectedly face a difficult situation
- financial predicament – money-related difficulties
- awkward predicament – socially uncomfortable or embarrassing situation
Collocations
- adjectives + predicament: difficult predicament, awkward predicament, serious predicament
- verbs + predicament: face a predicament, escape a predicament, get out of a predicament
- predicament + prepositions: predicament of, predicament with
Examples
- She found herself in a predicament when her car broke down in the middle of nowhere.
- The company is facing a financial predicament due to declining sales.
- He was in an awkward predicament when he forgot his friend’s name at the party.
- Without proper planning, we could easily end up in a serious predicament.
- The hikers were in a dangerous predicament when they ran out of water.
- He managed to escape his predicament by asking for help.
- Parents often face the predicament of balancing work and family life.
Synonyms or Related
- dilemma
- difficulty
- quandary
- mess
- trouble
- awkward situation