The team faced a conundrum when trying to balance the budget while ensuring the project's success.
synonyms
dilemmapuzzleproblem
word origin — The word 'conundrum' is believed to have originated in the late 16th century, possibly from the Latin word 'conundrum', a variant of 'conundra', or from a playful alteration of 'condendum', based on a humorous or fanciful derivation.
GRE Vocabulary — Set 75
Set 75 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: conundrum, concord, conglomerate, connoisseur, consensus. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
conundrum · noun/kəˈnʌndrəm/
a confusing and difficult problem or question
The team faced a conundrum when trying to balance the budget while ensuring the project's success.
Synonyms: dilemma, puzzle, problem
Origin: The word 'conundrum' is believed to have originated in the late 16th century, possibly from the Latin word 'conundrum', a variant of 'conundra', or from a playful alteration of 'condendum', based on a humorous or fanciful derivation.
concord · noun/ˈkɑːn.kɔrd/
a state of agreement or harmony
The two countries maintained a state of concord, working together to resolve their differences peacefully.
Synonyms: accord, harmony, agreement
Origin: from Latin 'concordia', from 'con-' meaning 'together' and 'cord' meaning 'heart'
conglomerate · noun/kənˈɡlɑː.məˌræt/
a large corporation formed by the merging of separate and diverse companies
The multinational conglomerate announced its plans to acquire several smaller companies in the tech industry to expand its portfolio.
Synonyms: corporation, conglomeration, group
Origin: The word 'conglomerate' comes from the Latin 'conglomerare', meaning 'to roll together', from 'con-' (together) + 'glomerare' (to form a ball, to gather).
connoisseur · noun/ˌkɑːnəˈsɜr/
a person who is knowledgeable about and appreciates a particular area, especially fine food or drink
The wine connoisseur expertly evaluated the vintage, noting its rich bouquet and complex flavors.
Synonyms: expert, aficionado, connoisseuse
Origin: French 'connaisseur' meaning 'one who knows,' from 'connaître' meaning 'to know'
consensus · noun/kənˈsɛn.səs/
general agreement among a group
After hours of discussion, the committee finally reached a consensus on the new policy.
Synonyms: agreement, accord, unity
Origin: From Latin 'consensus', meaning 'agreement, accord', from 'consentire', meaning 'to feel together'.