1
as in problems
a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices
faced with a dilemma of whether to risk continuing to drive in the dangerous storm or to give up searching for the lost dog and hope he survived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in predicaments
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
with home prices in a free fall, sellers were in a terrible dilemma
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dilemmas
Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas.
—
Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
The following is a breakdown of those questions and others, and the key personnel dilemmas that remain unsolved as the World Cup nears.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
We were riddled with some dilemmas when other teams were finalizing systems.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
Instead, Washington must shore up its traditional credibility in the world and use it to steer China along a less hostile path, presenting Beijing with dilemmas rather than ultimatums and seeking to shape outcomes over time rather than dictate them immediately.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Clearly, there’s something about Panahi’s exploration of the moral dilemmas of life under an authoritarian government that’s resonating with Stateside viewers.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
The jury praised the film for its portrayal of the ethical dilemmas faced by humanitarian workers within a Doctors Without Borders hospital.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 28 Nov. 2025
True moral dilemmas, which become tangled in ways that seem impossible to unravel, with his private life.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
The author recalled having a nightmare about his own family and unconsciously tapping into his personal dilemmas, which provided the basis for the book by the time the sun rose.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
The following is a breakdown of those questions and others, and the key personnel dilemmas that remain unsolved as the World Cup nears.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
We were riddled with some dilemmas when other teams were finalizing systems.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
Instead, Washington must shore up its traditional credibility in the world and use it to steer China along a less hostile path, presenting Beijing with dilemmas rather than ultimatums and seeking to shape outcomes over time rather than dictate them immediately.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Clearly, there’s something about Panahi’s exploration of the moral dilemmas of life under an authoritarian government that’s resonating with Stateside viewers.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
The jury praised the film for its portrayal of the ethical dilemmas faced by humanitarian workers within a Doctors Without Borders hospital.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 28 Nov. 2025
True moral dilemmas, which become tangled in ways that seem impossible to unravel, with his private life.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
The author recalled having a nightmare about his own family and unconsciously tapping into his personal dilemmas, which provided the basis for the book by the time the sun rose.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilemmas
Noun
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As well as visibility of the northern lights, strong geomagnetic storms can also cause problems with technology, such as fluctations in the power grid and interference with satellites, which can affect GPS.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Plus, in his first weeks of discussions with the union’s staff, Astin became more aware of problems involving auditions and casting directors.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Pakistan Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said his nation was hoping for more of a consensus going into Tuesday’s vote given the funding predicaments and operational issues that have dogged the MSS.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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Is River in desperate need of some R&R, or is everyone else projecting their own predicaments onto him?—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Because both of these feats brought Witt into mental quandaries that illustrate where his head is on milestones and where his head is going in terms of where his program is going in its third year.—
Brian Robin,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
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Kristen Arnett weighs in on this and other literary quandaries.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
To get the Benny Blanco drink, customers could add cherry flavor and pickles.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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Then she’s trapped by aisles on all sides, boxed in by shelf after shelf of pickles.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dilemmas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilemmas. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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