- Today's Word
Quagmire
[KWAG-myer]
Definition
- (noun) A complex, difficult, or unpleasant situation that is hard to escape from. It’s often used to describe a predicament or circumstance that seems to worsen the more one struggles with it, similar to being stuck in a muddy swamp.
Example
The company found itself in a financial quagmire after a series of poor investments, with mounting debts and declining revenues making it increasingly difficult to find a way out.
Fun Fact
The word “quagmire” originated in the early 16th century, combining “quag” (meaning a marshy area) and “mire” (meaning muddy ground). Its literal meaning describes a soft, wet area of land that gives way underfoot, like a bog or marsh. Over time, it evolved into a metaphor for any complicated and troublesome situation. The term gained particular prominence during the Vietnam War, when it was frequently used to describe the complex political and military situation the U.S. found itself in.
(verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.