dilemma Definition
di·lemma (di lem′ə; also dī-)
noun
- an argument necessitating a choice between equally unfavorable or disagreeable alternatives
- any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives
- any serious problem
Etymology: LL < LGr(Ec) dilēmma < di-, two + lēmma, proposition: see lemma
dilemma Related Forms
dilemma Synonyms
dilemma
n.
dilemma Usage Examples
Converse of object
- pose: This poses a dilemma for us in the South West.
- resolve: Attempt to resolve long-standing dilemma re paying Persia for safety.
- face: Everyone faces the same dilemmas on the road to the right decision.
- confront: We confront no dilemmas where there is no right answer; we always know the answer to everything.
- solve: Mrs Livingstone doesn't think Harry is a good enough match for Celia; a dramatic climax helps to solve a twofold dilemma.
- encapsulate: This brief overview encapsulates the dilemma that the BDA has faced over the past decade or so.
Converse of subject
confront: For instance, the followers of Stalinist communism were confronted by this dilemma at the end of the 1980s.
Adjective modifier
- ethical: Where ethical dilemmas have arisen, what steps have you taken to resolve these?
- moral: In a lot of moral dilemmas I happily say " money isn't everything " .
- age-old: It sums the age-old dilemma of the SNP, which for three decades has tried to face in two directions at the same time.
- existential: Her existential dilemma is that she doesn't want to be a grown-up.
- terrible: The new Children's Act has put counselors in a terrible dilemma.
- painful: This lecture will explore the medical, ethical and philosophical issues underling these painful human dilemmas.
Noun used with modifier
- interior: Ask Alice: Do you have an interiors dilemma?
- pension: The pensions dilemma Is closing down a ' final salary ' pension scheme the right move for charity trustees?
- leadership: The other two parties have leadership dilemmas, the Tories immediately, Labor more uncertainly.
- selection: With a full squad to choose from, the coaching team were faced with a selection dilemma prior to kick off.
- career: The answer isn't a lack of career prospects but an ability to manage career dilemmas they face.
Possessives
prisoner: Put simply, " The Prisoner's Dilemma " is the most enjoyable piece of Prisoner fiction this reviewer has ever read.
Preposition: of
identity: The Plautine comedy reduces the dilemmas of mistaken identity to an archetypal pattern.
Browse dictionary entries near dilemma
- ‹ dildo
- ‹ Dilaudid
- ‹ dilatory
- ‹ dilator
- ‹ dilatometer
- ‹ dilation
- ‹ dilate
- ‹ dilatation
- ‹ dilatant
- ‹ dilapidation
- dilettante ›
- Dili ›
- diligence ›
- diligent ›
- dill ›
- dill pickle ›
- dilly ›
- dillydally ›
- Dilthey ›
- diltiazem ›

