Quagmire

A quagmire is a difficult, precarious, or entrapping situation; a predicament or complex circumstance from which it's challenging to escape. It is often characterized by confusion, uncertainty, and potential danger, both physically and metaphorically. The term originates from a bog or marshy area, where movement is impeded by soft, yielding ground. This analogy extends to describe situations that similarly hinder progress and lead to further complications. In a figurative sense, a quagmire might represent a political entanglement, a financial crisis, or a moral dilemma where one becomes increasingly stuck the more they struggle to get out. The term emphasizes a lack of solid ground or clear path forward, highlighting the risk of sinking deeper into trouble.

Quagmire meaning with examples

• The country's involvement in the long and costly war had quickly become a political quagmire, draining resources and public support with no clear end in sight. Attempts to withdraw were fraught with peril, as all possible strategies were complicated by the delicate alliances formed throughout the war and potential consequences of sudden exit strategies.
• After the financial crisis, the banking system's intricate web of investments and debt created a regulatory quagmire. Government officials struggled to untangle the complexities and prevent a complete collapse, the more they tried to fix, the more they seemed to complicate the situation by introducing confusing new standards.
• His attempts to climb the corporate ladder led him into an ethical quagmire. He was pressured to participate in questionable practices, forcing him to choose between his career and his moral principles. He questioned if the price of ambition was too high to remain in this quagmire.
• Negotiations over the trade agreement descended into a diplomatic quagmire. Differing opinions and agendas, combined with a lack of trust between the parties, led to an impasse that threatened the economic stability of all the countries involved, making a difficult situation impossible to leave.