dilemma

noun di·lem·ma \ də-ˈle-mə also dī- \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Usage guide: Usage of dilemma

Examples: dilemma in a Sentence

Definition of dilemma

1 a : a usually undesirable or unpleasant choice

faces this dilemma: raise interest rates and slow the economy or lower them and risk serious inflation

b : a situation involving such a choice

here am I brought to a very pretty dilemma; I must commit murder or commit matrimony
—George Farquhar

broadly : predicament

lords and bailiffs were in a terrible dilemma
—G. M. Trevelyan

2 a : a problem involving a difficult choice

the dilemma of "liberty versus order"
—J. M. Burns

b : a difficult or persistent problem

unemployment … the great central dilemma of our advancing technology
—August Heckscher

3 : an argument presenting two or more equally conclusive alternatives against an opponent

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dilemmatic

play \ˌdi-lə-ˈma-tik also -ˌdī-\ adjective

See dilemma defined for English-language learners

See dilemma defined for kids

Usage of dilemma

Although some commentators insist that dilemma be restricted to instances in which the alternatives to be chosen are equally unsatisfactory, their concern is misplaced; the unsatisfactoriness of the options is usually a matter of how the author presents them. What is distressing or painful about a dilemma is having to make a choice one does not want to make. The use of such adjectives as terrible, painful, and irreconcilable suggests that dilemma is losing some of its unpleasant force.

Examples of dilemma in a Sentence

When it comes to the boss, there is a real dilemma. You're caught between a career-limiting rejection of virtual friendship or a career-limiting access to photos of yourself glassy-eyed at a party. —Jared Sandberg, Wall Street Journal, 10 July 2007
What's a pampered 20-something to do when her rich fiancé goes on a business trip and comes back married to someone else? That's the dilemma facing Elle Medina in Nichols's delightfully silly, vivacious debut. —Publishers Weekly, 28 June 2004
Both authors are prepared to dwell as long on the savor of a ripe melon as on the significance of a moral dilemma. —Roger Shattuck, New York Review of Books, 13 June 2002
The country's decision to go to war has caused a major dilemma for its allies.
We're facing a terrible dilemma.
I don't know what to do; it's a real dilemma.

Recent Examples of dilemma from the Web

The comp expectation has presented somewhat of a diplomatic dilemma.

— brooke singman, Fox News, "Trump-Kim summit: Who will foot the bill for North Korea?," 7 June 2018
Designer babies are just one example of the ethical dilemmas faced by the genomics industry.

— meghann farnsworth, Recode, "Recode Daily: Spotify, Uber, AT&T, Airbnb, Stitch Fix, Alibaba. Day 2 of the Code Conference was packed.," 31 May 2018
Sam Upshaw, Louisville Courier Journal Elliott Walden has a Triple Crown dilemma.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Justify owner's dilemma: Run Audible in Belmont and risk Triple Crown?," 24 May 2018
Faced with the threat of a U.S. strike on Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin has a dilemma: allow U.S. missiles to hit Moscow’s ally without a response or risk a military clash with the United States.

— vladimir isachenkov, BostonGlobe.com, "Putin unlikely to let a US strike in Syria go unanswered," 12 Apr. 2018
The Ducks have an interesting dilemma on their hands.

— tyson alger, OregonLive.com, "The Oregon Ducks have Justin Herbert. Now who wants to catch his passes?," 4 Apr. 2018
USA TODAY Sports Writer and producer Joe Mande has a dilemma for Season 3 of The Good Place, an NBC comedy about the afterlife and people who are bad who want to become good.

— scott gleeson, USA TODAY, "Jaguars' success creates quandary for 'The Good Place'," 11 Jan. 2018
The roots of the Kim dilemma lie in the brutality of the 1950-53 Korean War, during which as much as a quarter of the North’s population was killed.

— Bloomberg.com, "Why Doesn’t North Korea Want to Be More Like Its Neighbors?," 23 May 2018
The grainy photo sheds light on some of the dilemmas with rugby at youth level.

— george ramsay, CNN, "From teenager to test match: The long road to rugby stardom," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dilemma.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dilemma

Late Latin, from Late Greek dilēmmat-, dilēmma, probably back-formation from Greek dilēmmatos involving two assumptions, from di- + lēmmat-, lēmma assumption — more at lemma

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1523

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year