Advertisement
Advertisement
dilemma
[ dih-lem-uh ]
noun
- a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
- any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.
Synonyms: ,
- Logic. a form of syllogism in which the major premise is formed of two or more hypothetical propositions and the minor premise is a disjunctive proposition, as “If A, then B; if C then D. Either A or C. Therefore, either B or D.”
dilemma
/ dɪˈlɛmə; ˌdɪlɪˈmætɪk; daɪ-; ˌdaɪlɪ- /
noun
- a situation necessitating a choice between two equal, esp equally undesirable, alternatives
- a problem that seems incapable of a solution
- logic a form of argument one of whose premises is the conjunction of two conditional statements and the other of which affirms the disjunction of their antecedents, and whose conclusion is the disjunction of their consequents. Its form is if p then q and if r then s; either p or r so either q or s
- on the horns of a dilemma
- faced with the choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
- in an awkward situation
Usage
Derived Forms
- dilemmatic, adjective
Other Word Forms
- 徱··· [dil-, uh, -, mat, -ik], 徱e·i· 徱·m adjective
- 徱e·i··ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of dilemma1
Idioms and Phrases
see horns of a dilemma .Synonym Study
Example Sentences
It is a dilemma for the UK, which imports a large portion of its solar panels from China.
Maybe that says more about my play style than anything else, but it also means that I like having to overthink things — including unsettling moral dilemmas, which leads me to Abby and her revenge tour.
There’s not much hemming and hawing over the dilemma.
Athenian tragedy frequently placed recognizable civic dilemmas in a mythic framework, prompting the audience to examine questions of justice, governance and communal values.
How the CIF intends to protect its mission of being about education-based sports is the dilemma as pro and college teams focus on TV contracts and NIL deals to fuel their growth.
Advertisement
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse