A compound of quag, a boggy place, and mire, wet muddy ground. The sense of a hard-to-escape problem grew from the physical image.
A compound of quag, a boggy place, and mire, wet muddy ground. The sense of a hard-to-escape problem grew from the physical image.
What does quagmire mean?
A quagmire is a difficult situation with no easy way out, or deep wet ground.
When is quagmire used?
It often describes political, legal, or financial problems that grow harder to resolve.
How does quagmire differ from predicament?
A predicament is any difficult position, while a quagmire suggests being stuck and sinking deeper.
How is quagmire used in a sentence?
The dispute became a legal quagmire.
Is quagmire formal?
The word is formal in its figurative use, while the ground sense is straightforward.