Word of the week: Conundrum

As seen in: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

/kəˈnʌndrəm/  •  noun

What does this word mean?

A conundrum is a confusing or difficult problem or question, particularly one that is hard to resolve or that has no obvious or clear-cut answer. It often implies a sense of puzzlement or perplexity, a situation in which all possible solutions seem equally unsatisfactory or uncertain.

The word can refer to:

    • An intricate riddle or brainteaser, usually one involving a pun or clever wordplay

    • A broader dilemma or puzzling situation with no straightforward solution

How to use It?

Conundrum is typically used as a countable noun. It is often preceded by words such as:

    • a real conundrum — to stress the genuine difficulty of the problem

    • face / present / pose a conundrum — to describe encountering or creating a difficult challenge

    • at the heart of the conundrum — to identify the core of a complex issue

It suits formal, semi-formal, and literary registers equally well. In everyday conversation, it conveys a slightly elevated, thoughtful tone — making it particularly fitting for academic writing, literature, and intellectual discussion.

⚠️  Note: Avoid using it for simple or trivial problems, as it implies genuine complexity and difficulty.

Synonyms

The following words share a similar meaning, though each carries its own nuance:

    • Puzzle — a problem that demands clever thinking to be solved.

    • Enigma — something mysterious and difficult to understand, often with a deeper sense of intrigue.

    • Dilemma — a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between two or more options.

    • Quandary — a state of uncertainty or perplexity, especially about what to do next.

    • Paradox — a seemingly contradictory statement or situation that may nonetheless be true.

    • Riddle — a question or statement with a concealed meaning, intended to be solved.

Example Sentences

Study how conundrum is used across a variety of contexts:

The philosopher posed a conundrum that none of his students could resolve: if everything has a cause, what caused the very first thing?

Tiffany Aching found herself facing a conundrum — she could not protect the villagers without revealing that magic was at work.

The recruitment team was presented with a real conundrum: their most qualified candidate had no prior experience in the sector.

Climate change represents one of the greatest conundrums of our time, as no single nation can solve it alone.

At the heart of the ethical conundrum lay a simple question: is it ever justifiable to deceive someone for their own good?

His request put her in an awkward conundrum — refusing would seem rude, yet agreeing would compromise her principles.

The detective sat in silence, turning the conundrum over in his mind until a seemingly insignificant detail suddenly made everything clear.

The author deliberately leaves the ending unresolved, inviting the reader to wrestle with the moral conundrum themselves.

Economists continue to grapple with the conundrum of how to stimulate growth without fuelling inflation.

For a child who had never left the village, the wide world beyond the hills was itself a kind of delightful conundrum.

The management team faced a strategic conundrum: cutting costs would protect short-term profits, but could jeopardise long-term growth.

She smiled at the conundrum her grandmother had posed: 'What gets bigger the more you take away from it?' The answer, of course, was a hole.