be mired in — to be stuck or trapped in a difficult or unpleasant situation
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to be stuck or trapped in a difficult or unpleasant situation
Pronunciation (IPA): /biː ˈmaɪərd ɪn/
Example Sentences
- My neighbor has been mired in a feud with his HOA over his pink flamingo lawn decorations.
- The project has been mired in delays due to constant design changes.
- She's been mired in choosing between 47 different Netflix shows for the past hour.
be mired in
VERB[/biː ˈmaɪərd ɪn/]
to be stuck or trapped in a difficult or unpleasant situation

The old truck is mired in thick mud after the storm.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'mire' derives from Old Norse 'mýrr', meaning bog or swamp. The term was adopted into Middle English and later extended metaphorically to describe being stuck or trapped in difficult circumstances, paralleling the literal difficulty of escaping from muddy, boggy terrain.
Breakdown
mýrr (Old Norse: bog, swamp) → mire (bog/mud). The phrase 'be mired in' combines the noun with the preposition 'in', creating a metaphorical expression where the physical entrapment in mud represents figurative entrapment in problems or adverse situations.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My neighbor has been mired in a feud with his HOA over his pink flamingo lawn decorations.”
“The project has been mired in delays due to constant design changes.”
“She's been mired in choosing between 47 different Netflix shows for the past hour.”
“The country remains mired in economic recession despite government efforts.”
📚Related Words
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