state - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state"

acceptance - the state of being acceptable and accepted; "torn jeans received no acceptance at the country club"

ballgame, new ballgame - a particular situation that is radically different from the the preceding situation; "HDTV looks the same but it's really a whole new ballgame"

challenge - a demanding or stimulating situation; "they reacted irrationally to the challenge of Russian power"

childlessness - the condition of being without offspring

complication - a situation or condition that is complex or confused; "her coming was a serious complication"

crowding - a situation in which people or things are crowded together; "he didn't like the crowding on the beach"

disequilibrium - loss of equilibrium attributable to an unstable situation in which some forces outweigh others

element - the situation in which you are happiest and most effective; "in your element"

environment - the totality of surrounding conditions; "he longed for the comfortable environment of his livingroom"

equilibrium - a stable situation in which forces cancel one another

exclusion - the state of being excluded

fish bowl, fishbowl, goldfish bowl - a state of affairs in which you have no privacy; "the president lives in a goldfish bowl"

hotbed - a situation that is ideal for rapid development (especially of something bad); "it was a hotbed of vice"

inclusion - the state of being included

picture, scene - a situation treated as an observable object; "the political picture is favorable"; "the religious scene in England has changed in the last century"

prison house, prison - a prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement

rejection - the state of being rejected

size of it, size - the actual state of affairs; "that's the size of the situation"; "she hates me, that's about the size of it"

square one - the situation in which you begin an endeavor and to which you return if your efforts fail; "the police are now back at square one after having arrested and released 27 men"; "she has tried to diet but always ends up back at square one"

status quo - the existing state of affairs

thing - a special situation; "this thing has got to end"; "it is a remarkable thing"

condition, status - a state at a particular time; "a condition (or state) of disrepair"; "the current status of the arms negotiations"

shoes, place - a particular situation; "If you were in my place what would you do?"

poverty trap - a situation in which an increase in income results in a loss of benefits so that you are no better off

soup - an unfortunate situation; "we're in the soup now"

stymie - a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole

conflict of interest - a situation in which a public official's decisions are influenced by the official's personal interests

crisis - an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty; "they went bankrupt during the economic crisis"

crunch - a critical situation that arises because of a shortage (as a shortage of time or money or resources); "an end-of-the year crunch"; "a financial crunch"

hornet's nest, hornets' nest - a highly contentious or hazardous situation; "talk of invading Iraq stirred up a political hornets' nest"

hot potato - a difficult situation; "he dropped the topic like a hot potato"

how-d'ye-do, how-do-you-do - an awkward situation; "that's a fine how-d'ye-do"

embroilment, imbroglio - an intricate and confusing interpersonal or political situation

Mexican standoff - a situation in which no one can emerge as a clear winner

nightmare, incubus - a situation resembling a terrifying dream

no-win situation - a situation in which a favorable outcome is impossible; you are bound to lose whatever you do

straits, strait, pass - a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs

purgatory - a temporary condition of torment or suffering; "a purgatory of drug abuse"

swamp - a situation fraught with difficulties and imponderables; "he was trapped in a medical swamp"

ticking bomb, time bomb - a problematic situation that will eventually become dangerous if not addressed; "India is a demographic time bomb"; "the refugee camp is a ticking bomb waiting to go off"

tinderbox - a dangerous state of affairs; a situation that is a potential source of violence; "the Balkans are the tinderbox of Europe"

urgency - an urgent situation calling for prompt action; "I'll be there, barring any urgencies"; "they departed hurriedly because of some great urgency in their affairs"

deadlock, impasse, stalemate, standstill, dead end - a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible; "reached an impasse on the negotiations"

difficulty - a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome; "grappling with financial difficulties"

quicksand - a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy

position, place - the particular portion of space occupied by a physical object; "he put the lamp back in its place"

active site - the part of an enzyme or antibody where the chemical reaction occurs

locus - the specific site of a particular gene on its chromosome

locus of infection - the specific site in the body where an infection originates

restriction site - the specific sites at which a restriction enzyme will cleave DNA

job, line of work, occupation, business, line - the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money; "he's not in my line of business"

academicianship - the position of member of an honorary academy

accountantship - the position of accountant

admiralty - the office of admiral

ambassadorship - the post of ambassador

apostleship - the position of apostle

apprenticeship - the position of apprentice

attorneyship - the position of attorney

bailiffship - the office of bailiff

bishopry - the office of bishop

cadetship - the position of cadet

caliphate - the office of a caliph

captaincy, captainship - the post of captain

cardinalship - the office of cardinal

chairmanship - the position of chairman

chancellorship - the office of chancellor

chaplaincy, chaplainship - the position of chaplain

chieftaincy, chieftainship - the position of chieftain

clerkship - the job of clerk

commandership, commandery - the position or office of commander

comptrollership - the position of comptroller

consulship - the post of consul

controllership - the position of controller

councillorship, councilorship - the position of council member

counsellorship, counselorship - the position of counselor

curacy - the position of a curate

curatorship - the position of curator

custodianship - the position of custodian

deanship, deanery - the position or office of a dean

directorship - the position of a director of a business concern

discipleship - the position of disciple

editorship - the position of editor

eldership - the office of elder

emirate - the office of an emir

fatherhood - the status of a father

fatherhood - the status of a religious leader

foremanship - the position of foreman

generalship - the office of general

governorship - the office of governor

headship - the position of head

headship - the position of headmaster or headmistress

hot seat - a difficult position where you are subjected to stress and criticism

incumbency - the office of an incumbent

inspectorship - the office of inspector

instructorship - the position of instructor

internship - the position of a medical intern

judgeship, judgship, judicature - the position of judge

khanate - the position of a khan

lectureship - the post of lecturer

legateship, legation - the post or office of legate

legislatorship - the office of legislator

librarianship - the position of librarian

lieutenancy - the position of a lieutenant

magistracy, magistrature - the position of magistrate

managership - the position of manager

manhood - the status of being a man

marshalship - the post of marshall

mastership - the position of master

mayoralty - the position of mayor

messiahship - the position of messiah