Definitions

can of worms

NOUN

complicated situation

Synonyms

WEAK

Gordian knot Pandora's box complex problem complexity complication difficult situation difficulty dog's breakfast entanglement hard nut to crack headache hornet's nest hot water mare's nest mess predicament problem quagmire quandary snafu snake pit snarl trouble troublesome problem unpredictable situation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Well, you’re opening up a whole can of worms.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

Or a can of worms best left unopened?

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

One of the theater’s more prominent sociopaths gets a makeover in “Hedda,” director Nia DaCosta’s reimagining of “Hedda Gabler,” with an approach that opens up the play—and an interpretive can of worms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

Nudleman prefers to use his Amazon Fire Stick’s voice search feature to look for specific titles he’s interested in, but that experience is its own can of worms.

From Salon • May 22, 2025

I pressed my mouth into a line, wondering if I’d opened a can of worms.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

can of worms

Example Sentences

Related Words