conundrum

Meanings

• noun

  A word or phrase that is intentionally obscure, ambiguous, or confusing, typically used as a puzzle to be solved.

  - "The crossword puzzle had several conundrums that stumped even the most experienced solvers."
  - "The politician's statement contained several conundrums, making it difficult for the media to report accurately."
  - "The game show 'Let's Make a Deal' is famous for its conundrums, where contestants must guess which door has the prize behind it."

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Pronunciation

1. 
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75729648"
2. /kəˈnʌn.dɹəm/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3118635"

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Synonyms

brain-teaser , enigma , puzzle , riddle , dilemma

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with conundrum
tumult , rumble , mumble

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Variants

List of all variants of conundrum that leads to same result
conundrum , conundrums

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Latin 'conundrum' meaning 'a puzzle, enigma, or riddle'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The longest recorded conundrum is the 'Riddle of the Sphinx' from Greek mythology, which asks 'What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?' The answer is 'a human being'.

2. The word 'conundrum' first appeared in English literature in the 16th century.

3. The game show 'Let's Make a Deal' has been airing new episodes since 2009, making it one of the longest-running game shows in television history.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. enigma: An enigma is a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

2. riddle: A riddle is a question or statement, typically involving word play, whose answer is a clever or amusing response.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. The explanation of this "conundrum" is to be heard, at this very moment, on certain surreptitious radio waves, on which the voice of the American convert Bilal is … transmuted into the thunderous speech of the Imam himself.

   - Salman Rushdie,{it}Harper's{/it},December 1988

2. … giving parents a wealth of educational options sometimes presents a familiar inner-city "conundrum": What if all your choices are bad ones?

   - Katherine Boo,{it}New Yorker{/it},9 Apr. 2001

3. Mention of poor eyes and good eyes brings me to the creationist's favorite "conundrum". What is the use of half an eye?

   - Richard Dawkins,{it}River Out of Eden{/it},1995

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'conundrum' has been used extensively in literature, particularly in the genre of detective fiction. In art, it has been used as a theme in surrealist paintings and sculptures. In music, it has been used as a title for several songs, most notably by the band Pink Floyd.

How to Memorize "conundrum"

1. visualize
   

   - To memorize the word 'conundrum', try visualizing a puzzle or riddle. Imagine yourself solving a complex puzzle or riddle, and associate the word 'conundrum' with that experience.

2. associate
   

   - To remember the meaning of 'conundrum', associate it with the idea of a puzzle or riddle. Think of a time when you were stumped by a confusing problem or question, and use that memory to recall the definition of 'conundrum'.

3. mnemonics
   

   - A simple mnemonic for remembering the meaning of 'conundrum' is to associate it with the word 'puzzle'. Repeat the phrase 'conundrum is a puzzle' to yourself several times until you have memorized the definition.

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