A situation that presents difficulty, uncertainty, or perplexity

• can of worms

  1. (Idiomatic) A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.
  2. (Idiomatic) A troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex.

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  1. (Idiomatic) A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.
  2. (Idiomatic) A troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex.

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• question

  1. A problem; matter open to discussion or inquiry
  2. A matter of concern or difficulty; a problem:
  3. Uncertainty; doubt:

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  1. A problem; matter open to discussion or inquiry
  2. A matter of concern or difficulty; a problem:
  3. Uncertainty; doubt:

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• issue

  1. A point or matter of discussion, debate, or dispute:
  2. A culminating point leading to a decision:
  3. A point, matter, or question to be disputed or decided

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  1. A point or matter of discussion, debate, or dispute:
  2. A culminating point leading to a decision:
  3. A point, matter, or question to be disputed or decided

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• hornets' nest

  1. A violent or highly contentious situation:

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  1. A violent or highly contentious situation:

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A difficulty

• obstacle

  1. Anything that gets in the way or hinders; impediment; obstruction; hindrance
  2. Something that stands in the way of or holds up progress:

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  1. Anything that gets in the way or hinders; impediment; obstruction; hindrance
  2. Something that stands in the way of or holds up progress:

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• quandary

  1. A state of uncertainty; perplexing situation or position; dilemma

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  1. A state of uncertainty; perplexing situation or position; dilemma

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• dilemma

  1. Any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives
  2. (Usage Problem) A problem that seems to defy a satisfactory solution.
  3. Any serious problem

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  1. Any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives
  2. (Usage Problem) A problem that seems to defy a satisfactory solution.
  3. Any serious problem

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A question to be solved

• enigma

  1. One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable.
  2. A perplexing, usually ambiguous, statement; riddle
  3. A perplexing, baffling, or seemingly inexplicable matter, person, etc.

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  1. One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable.
  2. A perplexing, usually ambiguous, statement; riddle
  3. A perplexing, baffling, or seemingly inexplicable matter, person, etc.

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• intricacy

  1. Something intricate; involved matter, proceeding, etc.
  2. That which is intricate or involved; as, the intricacy of a knot; the intricacy of accounts; the intricacy of a cause in controversy; the intricacy of a plot.
  3. Something intricate:

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  1. Something intricate; involved matter, proceeding, etc.
  2. That which is intricate or involved; as, the intricacy of a knot; the intricacy of accounts; the intricacy of a cause in controversy; the intricacy of a plot.
  3. Something intricate:

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• query

  1. A doubt
  2. A question; an inquiry.
  3. A question mark (?) placed after a question or used to question the accuracy of written or printed matter

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  1. A doubt
  2. A question; an inquiry.
  3. A question mark (?) placed after a question or used to question the accuracy of written or printed matter

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