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Definition of quagmire

quagmire

/ˈkwæɡˌmaɪ.ɚ/
quag · mire
Plural:quagmires
•
Adjective:quagmiry
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quagmire Lexical Profile

quagmire Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An awkward, complex, or hazardous situation from which it is difficult to extricate oneself.

Example

"The corporation found itself in a legal quagmire after the regulatory audit uncovered decades of disputed accounting practices."

2

A soft, boggy area of land having a surface that yields or gives way underfoot.

Example

"Days of torrential rain turned the unpaved mountain trail into a muddy quagmire that slowed the hikers to a crawl."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for quagmire

• Nearby Words

quadruplex
quaff
quagga
quagmire
quahog
quail
quaint

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 16th century, 'quagmire' is a compound formed from 'quag' (an earlier dialect word for a boggy place, likely of imitative origin suggesting shaking or trembling underfoot) and 'mire' (from Old Norse 'mýrr', meaning swamp or bog).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Quagmire. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/quagmire
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