imbroglio

[ im-brohl-yoh ]

/ ɪmˈbroʊl yoʊ /

a misunderstanding, disagreement, etc., of a complicated or bitter nature, as between persons or nations.

an intricate and perplexing state of affairs; a complicated or difficult situation.

a confused heap.

Also embroglio.

Origin of imbroglio

1740–50; < Italian, derivative of imbrogliare to embroil

imbracery, imbrangle, imbrex, imbricate, imbrication, imbroglio, imbros, imbrown, imbrue, imbrute, imbue

Yet the current imbroglio in which Obama finds himself is self-inflicted.

Obama Needs a Friend in Congress—Like Bush Had |Lloyd Green |September 10, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
No wonder the summit was eclipsed by the B-movie imbroglio over Secret Service agents moonlighting as sex tourists.

Cartagena Summit’s Other Outrage: Obama’s Indifference to Latin Issues |Mac Margolis |April 27, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, on the other hand, found the Sestak imbroglio to be less, er, pungent.

May 30: 7 Best Moments From Sunday Talk |The Daily Beast Video |May 30, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
The imbroglio of the Ladies of the Bedchamber had been settled in 1840.

Mr. Punch's History of Modern England, Vol. I (of 4).--1841-1857 |Charles L. Graves

The whole Toltec imbroglio is the result of a confusion between the histories of two peoples.

The American Egypt |Channing Arnold
It is your own course of action, remember, which has led to the present—the present—well, let us say imbroglio.

Erema |R. D. Blackmore
I am uneasy, fearing we may commit some spread-eagleism towards France during this present Mexican imbroglio.

Diary from March 4, 1861, to November 12, 1862 |Adam Gurowski
How, then, the reader may ask, is an issue to be found out of the present imbroglio?

Russia |Donald Mackenzie Wallace

imbroglio

/ (ɪmˈbrəʊlɪˌəʊ) /

a confused or perplexing political or interpersonal situation

obsolete a confused heap; jumble

C18: from Italian, from imbrogliare to confuse, embroil