conundrum
Other forms: conundrums
The tricky word conundrum is used to describe a riddle or puzzle, sometimes including a play on words or pun.
One of the most famous conundrums is the riddle of the Sphinx, famously in the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Oedipus encounters the Sphinx, a mythical beast, who asks him, "What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?" The answer is "A person": crawling as a child, walking as an adult, and using a cane in old age. The scary thing is that if the Sphinx asked you the riddle and you didn't know, she'd eat you!
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a difficult problemsynonyms: brain-teaser, enigma, riddletype of:problema question raised for consideration or solution
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Vocabulary lists containing conundrum
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When you’ve painted yourself in a corner, stirred up a hornet’s nest, or put yourself between a rock and a hard place, perhaps the best thing to do is talk about it, and that’s why there are so many expressions for being in a pickle. Whether you're up a creek without a paddle or just want to be prepared for future predicaments, these words will have you covered. For a deeper dive into the barrel, check out: Celebrate National Pickle Day the Wordy Way