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double bind

noun

Definition of double bind

:a psychological predicament in which a person receives from a single source conflicting messages that allow no appropriate response to be made; broadly :dilemma 2

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Examples of double bind in a Sentence

  1. the double bind faced by every politician: responding to scurrilous charges only gives them unwarranted publicity; not responding to such charges is often interpreted as an admission of guilt

First Known Use of double bind

1956

double bind Synonyms

Synonyms
catch-22, dilemma, quandary
Related Words
deadlock, impasse, quagmire, stalemate, standoff; knot, problem; bind, difficulty, fix, hole, jam, pickle, pinch, plight, predicament, spot
Near Antonyms
breeze, cinch, duck soup, snap

DOUBLE BIND Defined for English Language Learners

double bind

noun

Definition of double bind for English Language Learners

  • : a very difficult situation that has no good solution

Medical Dictionary

double bind

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noun dou·ble bind \ ˈdəb-əl-ˈbīnd \

medical Definition of double bind

:a psychological predicament in which a person receives from a single source conflicting messages that allow no appropriate response to be made

Learn More about double bind

  1. See words that rhyme with double bind Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for double bind

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Examples: double bind in a Sentence