morass

A morass is a mushy, muddy patch of ground that you might find in a bog. In other words, it's something you probably don't want to get stuck in.

The noun morass comes from the Dutch word moeras, meaning "marsh" or "fen." More metaphorically, just like its synonyms mire and quagmire, morass refers to anything that bogs you down, overwhelms you, and hinders your progress — like red tape, for example. You might refer to a "political morass" when the government cannot seem to pass legislation. Whether a morass is physical or metaphorical, it's a sticky mess you'll most likely want to avoid.

Definitions of morass
  1. noun
    a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
    synonyms: mire, quag, quagmire, slack
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    type of:
    bog, peat bog
    wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation; has poorer drainage than a swamp; soil is unfit for cultivation but can be cut and dried and used for fuel
  2. noun
    a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
    synonyms: plight, predicament, quagmire, quandary
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    types:
    care
    a cause for feeling concern
    box, corner
    a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible
    hot water
    a dangerous or distressing predicament
    type of:
    difficulty
    a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome
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