morass

IPA

Dictionary definition of morass

A complicated, confusing, or difficult situation or state of affairs, often one that is characterized by being tangled or stuck.
"The project had become a morass of conflicting priorities and objectives."

Detailed meaning of morass

A morass can be a physical, mental, or emotional state, and it is usually marked by a feeling of being overwhelmed or trapped. A person can find themselves in a morass when dealing with a complex problem that seems insurmountable, or when facing a difficult decision that has no clear solution. Similarly, a situation or organization can become a morass when it is bogged down by bureaucracy, red tape, or internal conflicts. In some cases, a morass can be the result of external factors, such as economic or political instability, that create a sense of chaos or confusion. In any case, a morass is a challenging situation that requires careful consideration and strategic action to navigate successfully.

Example sentences of morass

1. The project's complexity turned it into a bureaucratic morass of red tape.
2. The swampy morass made hiking through the wilderness a challenging adventure.
3. The legal case became a tangled morass of conflicting testimonies.
4. Navigating the city's traffic during rush hour can feel like a daily morass.
5. The economic downturn created a financial morass for many businesses.
6. The family's dysfunction was a never-ending morass of conflicts and drama.

History and etymology of morass

The noun 'morass' has its origins in the Dutch word 'moeras,' which means 'marsh' or 'swamp.' It entered the English language in the 17th century. 'Morass' is used metaphorically to describe a complicated, confusing, or difficult situation or state of affairs, often one that is characterized by being tangled or stuck, much like the challenges of navigating through a dense, swampy terrain. The etymology of 'morass' effectively conveys the sense of being mired in a complex and entangled predicament, emphasizing the difficulty of extricating oneself from it. Whether used to describe a legal morass, a financial morass, or a political morass, this term underscores the idea of a bewildering and challenging situation.

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Further usage examples of morass

1. The political debate devolved into a partisan morass of accusations.
2. The relationship's trust issues became a communication morass.
3. The dense forest was a thorny morass of underbrush and fallen trees.
4. The novel's plot was a convoluted morass of subplots and twists.
5. The project's delays led to a bureaucratic morass of missed deadlines.
6. The investigation uncovered a moral morass of ethical violations.
7. The swamp was a treacherous morass of quicksand and murky waters.
8. The company's financial records were a tangled morass of discrepancies.
9. The business merger resulted in a logistical morass of integration challenges.
10. The archaeological site was a historical morass of ancient artifacts and ruins.
11. The courtroom proceedings were a legal morass of objections and motions.
12. The relationship's breakdown became an emotional morass of hurt feelings.
13. The city's infrastructure was a crumbling morass of neglected repairs.
14. The addiction recovery process can be a psychological morass.
15. The labyrinthine maze was a confusing morass of twisting passages.
16. The urban development plan faced opposition from a political morass.
17. The negotiation turned into a diplomatic morass of competing interests.
18. The divorce proceedings were a personal morass of bitterness and acrimony.
19. The educational system needed reform to avoid a pedagogical morass.