noun
dilemma
dih-LEM-uh/dɪˈlemə/
A difficult situation involving a hard choice or serious problem.
The hiker faces a dilemma between deep mud and thorny branches.
Etymology
A “double proposition” began as a term in rhetoric. It came to describe a choice whose two alternatives are both unfavorable—the two “horns” of a dilemma.
In context
So with only enough time to save one ship, which one should you choose? This dilemma is an example of a broader class of problems where a life-saving resource— such as a donated organ or vaccine— is scarce.
More examples
- She faced a dilemma about accepting the offer.
- The decision created a moral dilemma.
- They discussed several difficult dilemmas.
Forms
dilemma · dilemmas
Similar words
- predicament
- Predicament need not involve competing choices.
- quandary
- Quandary emphasizes uncertainty about what to do.