conundrum

noun

kə-ˈnən-drəm How to pronounce conundrum (audio)
Definition of conundrumnext
as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain the conundrum of how an ancient people were able to build such massive structures without the benefit of today's knowledge and technology

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conundrum Then there's the conundrum of non-technological intelligent life in the universe. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 July 2026 The Devil and The Lovers pose conundrums about being a woman in the 1960s, which had a direct impact on Plath’s emotional landscape. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026 This season of The Real Housewives of London presents a sort of conundrum for me. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 July 2026 And regenerative medicine, cellular therapies, protein engineering, and synthetic biology while opening entirely new therapeutic frontiers raise the conundrum of who will pay for them. — Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for conundrum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conundrum
  1. mystery
  2. enigma
Noun
  • Joe Conti, an independent researcher and physics enthusiast based in Massachusetts, is inviting eclipse observers across Iceland and Spain to capture the optical mystery on their smartphones as part of a citizen science project.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Avoiding a court case also helped keep the the reason behind their breakup a mystery, though both have since hinted that the burden of fame and the constant pressure of being in the spotlight were more than the couple could bear.
    — Francesca Pellegrini, Vanity Fair, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • On top of that, Perel said, the kinds of communities and rituals people traditionally relied on when facing enigma and loss aren’t so common anymore.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • The drawer at the bottom of your oven can be a surprising enigma.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
Definition of enigma

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contusions
conundrum
conundrums
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Cite this Entry

“Conundrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conundrum. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of conundrum for Spanish Speakers

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