PREDICAMENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does predicament mean? 

• PREDICAMENT (noun)
  The noun PREDICAMENT has 1 sense:

1. a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one

  Familiarity information: PREDICAMENT used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PREDICAMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

plight; predicament; quandary

Context example:

the woeful plight of homeless people

Hypernyms ("predicament" is a kind of...):

difficulty (a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "predicament"):

care (a cause for feeling concern)

box; corner (a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible)

hot water (a dangerous or distressing predicament)

 Context examples 

The dog came bounding back, and seeing his master in a predicament, and hearing the horse groan, barked till the evening hills echoed the sound, which was deep in proportion to his magnitude.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It was a much safer place for a gentleman in his predicament: he might there be important at comparatively little expense.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I had made my mind up in a moment, and by way of answer told him the whole story of our voyage and the predicament in which we found ourselves.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

All the while I had been apprehensive concerning my own predicament.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The ten cents carried Martin across the ferry to San Francisco, and as he walked up Market Street he speculated upon his predicament in case he failed to collect the money.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"I can't. I'm not playing, I never do," said Frank, dismayed at the sentimental predicament out of which he was to rescue the absurd couple.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Miss Bates stood in the very worst predicament in the world for having much of the public favour; and she had no intellectual superiority to make atonement to herself, or frighten those who might hate her into outward respect.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The actors may be glad, but the bystanders must be infinitely more thankful for a decision; and I do sincerely give you joy, madam, as well as Mrs. Norris, and everybody else who is in the same predicament, glancing half fearfully, half slyly, beyond Fanny to Edmund.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

"As I was saying—what was I saying?" She broke off abruptly and laughed merrily at her predicament.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)