Synonyms for conundrum
kəˈnʌn drəmco·nun·drum

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. conundrumnoun

   A difficult question or riddle, especially one using a play on words in the answer.

   Synonyms:
   enigma, brain-teaser, riddle, puzzle

2. conundrumnoun

   A difficult choice or decision that must be made.

   Synonyms:
   dilemma

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.3 / 4 votes

1. conundrumnoun

   Conundrum, a word of unknown origin, signifies some question or statement in which some hidden and fanciful resemblance is involved, the answer often depending upon a pun; an enigma is a dark saying; a paradox is a true statement that at first appears absurd or contradictory; a problem is something thrown out for solution; puzzle (from oppose) referred originally to the intricate arguments by which disputants opposed each other in the old philosophic schools. The riddle is an ambiguous or paradoxical statement with a hidden meaning to be guessed by the mental acuteness of the one to whom it is proposed; the riddle is not so petty as the conundrum, and may require much acuteness for its answer; a problem may require simply study and scholarship, as a problem in mathematics; a puzzle may be in something other than verbal statement, as a dissected map or any perplexing mechanical contrivance. Both enigma and puzzle may be applied to any matter difficult of answer or solution, enigma conveying an idea of greater dignity, puzzle applying to something more commonplace and mechanical; there are many dark enigmas in human life and in the course of providence; the location of a missing object is often a puzzle.

   Synonyms:
   enigma, paradox, problem, puzzle, riddle

   Antonyms:
   answer, axiom, explanation, proposition, solution

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.4 / 5 votes

1. riddle, conundrum, enigma, brain-teasernoun

   a difficult problem

   Synonyms:
   brain-teaser, enigma, closed book, secret, riddle, mystery

Matched Categories

1. • Problem

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:4.5 / 2 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "conundrum":

   enigma, riddle, puzzle, dilemma, mystery

How to pronounce conundrum?

How to say conundrum in sign language?

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How to use conundrum in a sentence?

1. Andrew Tabler:

   They think that Assad's immediate departure would lead to a collapse of the regime. Washington also sees a rapid collapse of the regime as something that would be a boon for ISIS. They are in a conundrum: if Assad goes right away, it would help ISIS, but if he doesn't go at all, you have no hope of putting the pieces of Syria back together again, this recent outburst of diplomacy is because everyone was becoming concerned, and rightfully so. But the results of that process were remarkably poor. They seem to cement the earlier political positions of the region when it comes to Syria.

2. Geoffrey Neighor:

   I've been thinking about that old Zen conundrum what's the sound of one hand clapping My personal opinion--nothing. You don't have two hands, you don't have any clapping. It's as simple as that. Stars, galaxies, clapping hands, what's the point The point is that we all need somebody, whether you're a supercluster or a little proton, a yin or a yang. Everybody is hooked into everybody else.

3. Eduardo Vilaro:

   But meanwhile, the arts are what's keeping the human connection alive in social media, it's remarkable. It's quite a conundrum.

4. Robert Holland:

   This reflects a genuine governance conundrum.

5. Ben Wood:

   Apple faces a real conundrum of pricing.