morass

[muh-ras]

noun

1. a tract of low, soft, wet ground.

2. a marsh or bog.

3. marshy ground.

4. any confusing or troublesome situation, especially one from which it is difficult to free oneself; entanglement.

morass

/ məˈræs /

noun

1. a tract of swampy low-lying land

2. a disordered or muddled situation or circumstance, esp one that impedes progress

Word History and Origins

Origin of morass¹

1645–55; < Dutch moeras, alteration (by association with moer marsh; moor ¹ ) of Middle Dutch maras < Old French mareis < Germanic. See marsh

Word History and Origins

Origin of morass¹

C17: from Dutch moeras, ultimately from Old French marais _marsh

Example Sentences

You have two options: You can pay tens of thousands of dollars and navigate a morass of policies.

From Los Angeles Times

“Unguided chatbot responses, for example, cannot be neatly constrained. Attempts to do so will either be insufficient or entangle developers in a morass of third-rail social issues.”

From Salon

He’s grateful that smaller local institutions have stepped up to provide places for him to practice his craft, even as insurance companies dragged him through a morass.

From Los Angeles Times

While Bianchi’s account was a “morass of contradictions,” there was nevertheless a great deal of evidence to corroborate his claims, which he said prosecutors had unaccountably “glossed over.”

From Los Angeles Times

Besides, the Dodgers have waded into political morasses before.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chaos 
• quagmire 
• tangle