dilemma
- noun
- /dɪˈlɛm.ə/
- She found herself in a dilemma between accepting a job offer and staying with her current employer.
- face a dilemma
- a moral dilemma
- an ethical dilemma
OK, so in the Prisoner's Dilemma, you've got two prisoners.
- OK, so in the Prisoner's Dilemma, you've got two prisoners.
- And these ethical dilemmas are going to be there for AI.
- As with all ethical dilemmas, this has no clear right or wrong answer.
- So my dilemma was should I tell her what I think?
- So vaccination is another example of a prisoner's dilemma.
- So we've really solidified A dilemma to the degree that we can.
- So we have a fantastic permanent dilemma in this show.
- Oh my God, we are not doing dilemmas this week, unfortunately.
- It's just I'm always met with this dilemma every single year.
- These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot.
- And this is how people experience these dilemmas or these questions.
- But the dilemma was I don't want that.
- And that is a dilemma that we have to grapple with.
- You know, the dilemma was gone and that that felt great.
- And that is the dilemma until now.
- Then I was left with the dilemma because I couldn't carry on.
Examples
-
Then you will understand my dilemma.
-
Look, this does present a moral dilemma.
-
So my dilemma was should I tell her what I think?
-
American management has been caught in this dilemma and does not know which way to turn.
Academic text (1990) -
Challenges were issued almost immediately, and the dilemma became a legal issue.
Academic text (2011) -
This is an incredibly difficult dilemma to solve.
-
And that is a dilemma that we have to grapple with.
-
That's every parent's dilemma: how to balance work and children.
-
As with all ethical dilemmas, this has no clear right or wrong answer.
-
She needs to solve her dilemma.
Synonyms
A difficult or embarrassing situation that is hard to escape
A situation when you do not know what to do
A difficult choice when two options are equally hard
A situation where you cannot win because rules block every choice
A situation where every choice leads to a bad result
A difficult situation where you have no good choice
Facing a choice between two equally bad options
You must choose between two options that are both bad
Being forced to choose between three difficult options you cannot have together
A very hard choice that makes you feel deep pain or sadness
To have to choose between two equally bad options while people on both sides pressure you
Antonyms
Idioms
How Difficult
Surface Forms
Etymology
Dilemma comes from Greek parts di- meaning 'two' and lemma meaning 'something taken' or 'an idea'. So a dilemma is a choice between two often bad or difficult options.