prih-DIK-uh-ment
Predicament refers to a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation from which it is hard to extricate oneself. It describes a challenging circumstance that presents a dilemma or problem requiring careful consideration to resolve.
Yes. PREDICAMENT is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 18 points in Scrabble, 22 in Words With Friends and 20 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | P | R | E | D | I | C | A | M | E | N | T | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 22 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
A predicament is a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation that presents a problem or dilemma. It describes circumstances where someone finds themselves in trouble or facing a challenging decision with no easy solution. The word captures the essence of being caught in a bind, where every available option seems problematic or undesirable.
The term carries a sense of entanglement or entrapment, suggesting that the person experiencing the predicament is somewhat stuck or constrained by circumstances. Unlike a simple problem that might have a straightforward solution, a predicament implies complexity and difficulty in finding a way out. It often involves conflicting interests, limited options, or potential negative consequences regardless of the chosen course of action.
In everyday usage, predicament can range from minor inconveniences to serious crises. A student might face the predicament of having two important exams on the same day, while a business leader might confront the predicament of choosing between layoffs or bankruptcy. The word effectively conveys both the difficulty of the situation and the emotional stress it can cause.
The word "predicament" has a fascinating journey from philosophical terminology to everyday usage. It derives from the Late Latin praedicamentum, meaning "something predicated or asserted," which comes from praedicare (to proclaim or assert). The prefix "prae-" means "before" and "dicare" means "to proclaim."
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of PREDICAMENT.
Hooks: no front hooks; back PREDICAMENTS.
Words inside PREDICAMENT: 1071 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: IMPRECATEDIMPEDANCEENCAMPEDIMPACTEDIMPRECATEPANDEMICPREMEDICCRAMPEDCRIMPEDIMPACTERPREDICANTPREDICATE. See all words from PREDICAMENT.