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dilemma
[ dih-lem-uh ]
noun
- a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
- any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.
Synonyms: difficulty, question
- 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 Words From
- dil·em·mat·ic [dil-, uh, -, mat, -ik], dilem·mati·cal di·lemmic adjective
- dilem·mati·cal·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
In ‘99% Perspiration,’ data and stories illustrate the roots and consequences of a very American dilemma: the belief that old-fashioned elbow grease will get you anywhere you want to go.
The recovery of the saltwater crocodile has been so dramatic that Australia now faces a different dilemma: managing their numbers to keep people safe and the public onside.
With family drama, career ambitions and romantic dilemmas taking centre stage, we're anticipating an ambitious, juicy epic that will hopefully be worth the wait.
“The rising cost of child care across the country presents a tough dilemma: Parents are forced to choose between remaining in the workforce or staying home with their children,” he said in a statement.
The dilemma points to another question — large, existential, and increasingly urgent: What “action” can people take?
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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.
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