conundrum
Hard nut, mentally
A conundrum is a problem that does not have a solution, or whose apparent solution only creates another problem: Workers faced the conundrum of being unable to live on their wages while knowing that a raise would bankrupt the company.
An older meaning of conundrum is a riddle whose answer involves a pun or a play on words, but this meaning is rarely employed today.
State of perplexity
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
catch-22 · bind · pickle · crossroads · plight · no-win situation · double bind · Hobson's choice
Puzzling question to solve
- brainteaserPuzzle demanding clever thought
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- puzzlerDifficult problem to solve
- brain-teaserChallenging mental puzzle
head-scratcher · poser · stumper · teaser · mind-bender · paradox · logic puzzle · word puzzle
Something hard to fathom
- perplexityMental state of confusion
- bafflementMental state of confusion
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- inscrutabilityImpossible to understand
unfathomable · inexplicable · cryptic · arcane · obscure · sphinx-like · unknowable · impenetrable
Matter requiring resolution
- difficultyState of being hard
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
thorny issue · tough nut to crack · Gordian knot · intractable · sticky wicket · vexation · puzzlement
quandary
State of perplexity
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
stalemate · catch-22 · bind · pickle · crossroads · plight · no-win situation · double bind · Hobson's choice · rock and a hard place
riddle
Puzzling question to solve
- brainteaserPuzzle demanding clever thought
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- puzzlerDifficult problem to solve
brain-teaser · head-scratcher · poser · stumper · teaser · mind-bender · paradox · logic puzzle · word puzzle · sphinx
enigma
Something hard to fathom
- perplexityMental state of confusion
- bafflementMental state of confusion
- bewildermentState of being baffled
inscrutability · unfathomable · inexplicable · cryptic · arcane · obscure · sphinx-like · unknowable · impenetrable · abstruse
problem
Matter requiring resolution
- difficultyState of being hard
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
complication · thorny issue · tough nut to crack · Gordian knot · intractable · sticky wicket · vexation · puzzlement
- puzzlespuzzles, sudoku, jigsaw puzzle, puzzle cube, crossword
- word gamescrossword, Scrabble, crossword puzzle, anagram, word game
- riddlesriddles, riddle, enigmas, enigma, brainteasers
- brain teasersriddle, brain teaser, logic puzzles, puzzle, brainteasers
- cryptic puzzlesriddle, cipher, code, cryptogram, enigma
- mysteriesmystery, enigma, enigmas, puzzle, riddle
conundrumsolution
Answer or liquid mixture
answer · resolution · explanation · clarification · key
conundrumno-brainer
Self-evident decision
cinch · foregone conclusion · truism · given · slam dunk