quagmire
KWAG-my-er
/ˈkwæɡmaɪə/
A soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot; an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation.
Implies that the more you try to get out, the deeper you sink. Very common in military history (e.g., the Vietnam War).
The story behind the word. From 'quag' (an old word for a marsh) and 'mire' (wet, slimy soil). It describes land that looks solid but is actually liquid mud underneath.
Word relationships
- morass: A morass is also a bog, but quagmire is more common in modern political usage.
- solution: A solution provides the way out that a quagmire lacks.
Commonly confused with
- impasse: An impasse is a wall; a quagmire is a swamp you are sinking into.
Collocations
- legal quagmire
- political quagmire
- stuck in a quagmire
Example sentences
- "The country was sinking into a legal quagmire that would take years to resolve." Foreign policy
- "The invasion soon became a quagmire, draining the nation's resources and morale." Military history
Memory hook
A 'Quagmire' makes you 'Quake' because you are stuck in 'Mire' (mud). Sinking into quicksand.
When not to use
Avoid for simple delays; it implies a dangerous or messy trap.
Fun facts
- The word has been used since the 1500s to describe literal swamps, but its political use exploded during the 1960s.
Related words
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