Definition

1. Noun:
   • A legendary, intricate knot: Refers to the knot tied by Gordius, king of Phrygia, which was said to be impossible to untie. According to prophecy, whoever could untie it would rule Asia. Alexander the Great famously "solved" it by cutting it with his sword.
   • Any extremely difficult or complex problem: Used metaphorically to describe a problem that seems impossible to solve through conventional or logical means, often because it is tangled with complications.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The negotiations had become a Gordian knot of conflicting interests and legal clauses.
  • Faced with the Gordian knot of the budget deficit, the council sought a radical solution.
  • The legend says that Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot with a single stroke of his blade.

Advanced Usage

• "to cut the Gordian knot": To solve a very difficult problem with a bold, decisive, and often unconventional action.
  • The CEO decided to cut the Gordian knot by shutting down the entire unprofitable division.
  • Sometimes, diplomacy requires the courage to cut the Gordian knot and make a tough decision.

Variants and Related Words

• Intractable (adj): Describes a problem very hard to solve or manage.
  • The intractable nature of the conflict made peace seem distant.
• Conundrum (n): A confusing and difficult problem or question.
  • The source of the error was a real conundrum for the engineers.

Synonyms

• Quandary: A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
• Imbroglio: An extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation.
• Labyrinth: A complicated irregular network of passages or paths; a complex, tangled situation.

Related Idioms

• "Cut the knot": A shortened form of "cut the Gordian knot," meaning to solve a problem by forceful or direct action.
  • We need to cut the knot and finalize the contract today.

Noun

1. an intricate knot tied by Gordius, the king of Phrygia, and cut by the sword of Alexander the Great after he heard that whoever undid it would become ruler of Asia
2. any very difficult problem; insoluble in its own terms