conundrum

(kə-nŭn'drəm)
n.

1. A riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun.
2. A paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma: "the conundrum, thus far unanswered, of achieving full employment without inflation" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.).

[Origin unknown.]

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is a 16th century word of unknown origin, perhaps a facetious invention. It has a plural conundrums.

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noun

Anything that arouses curiosity or perplexes because it is unexplained, inexplicable, or secret: enigma, mystery, perplexity, puzzle, puzzler, riddle. See show/hide.

IN BRIEF: A strange riddle or dilemma.

Linda was in a conundrum when she scheduled two appointments at the same time.

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For a list of words related to conundrum, see:

• Rhetoric and Figures of Speech - conundrum: question or riddle whose answer involves a pun
• Rites, Practices, Spells, and Symbols - conundrum: riddle whose answer involves a pun; mystery

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See words rhyming with "conundrum."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Conundrum.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - ordgåde, gåde

Nederlands (Dutch)
raadsel, moeilijk/ raadselachtig vraagstuk

Français (French)
n. - devinette, énigme

Deutsch (German)
n. - Rätsel

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - αίνιγμα, γρίφος

Italiano (Italian)
indovinello, enigma, rompicapo

Português (Portuguese)
n. - enigma (m)

Русский (Russian)
шарада, головоломка

Español (Spanish)
n. - acertijo, adivinanza, enigma

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - gåta, kvistig fråga

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
谜语, 机智问答, 难题

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 謎語, 機智問答, 難題

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 수수께끼, 수수께끼 인물

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - なぞなぞ, 難問

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) لغز, أحجيه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮חידה, בעייה‬

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