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
Lead executives Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer will be dealing with far more pressing dilemmas on draft night and in the days that follow, but they’re also tasked with using the low-value pick to locate someone who can help Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets win immediately.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
The regulation of our environment; the presence of chemicals both intentionally and unwittingly in our food, water, air, and land; the ecological fate of all living creatures, and of the earth itself—all these dilemmas and conundrums find urgent expression in Carson’s work.
—Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
Coming from the comedy world themselves, the duo take listeners down hilarious rabbit holes about pet peeves, dating dilemmas and life hacks.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Casting child star vocal talents to bring his line drawings to life for the characters surrounding Charlie Brown (and his endless dilemmas of life story plots) wasn’t an easy feat for Schulz, since, after all, children grow up, and their vocals mature.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
High-profile court cases exposed the ethical dilemmas around end-of-life care and patient self-determination.
—Jennifer McCurdy, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
Barragán originally set out to find the man who scammed his mother by posing as a handsome American soldier, but now interrogates four of these young men, illuminating their psychological tactics, economic hardships and moral dilemmas.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 30 May 2026
International cave-diving teams are navigating jagged, zero-visibility passages while weighing whether to guide the exhausted, untrained villagers underwater or wait for receding floodwaters, echoing dilemmas from Thailand’s 2018 cave rescue.
—Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Lynn’s theory promised to resolve all their dilemmas.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
The regulation of our environment; the presence of chemicals both intentionally and unwittingly in our food, water, air, and land; the ecological fate of all living creatures, and of the earth itself—all these dilemmas and conundrums find urgent expression in Carson’s work.
—Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
Coming from the comedy world themselves, the duo take listeners down hilarious rabbit holes about pet peeves, dating dilemmas and life hacks.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Casting child star vocal talents to bring his line drawings to life for the characters surrounding Charlie Brown (and his endless dilemmas of life story plots) wasn’t an easy feat for Schulz, since, after all, children grow up, and their vocals mature.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
High-profile court cases exposed the ethical dilemmas around end-of-life care and patient self-determination.
—Jennifer McCurdy, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
Barragán originally set out to find the man who scammed his mother by posing as a handsome American soldier, but now interrogates four of these young men, illuminating their psychological tactics, economic hardships and moral dilemmas.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 30 May 2026
International cave-diving teams are navigating jagged, zero-visibility passages while weighing whether to guide the exhausted, untrained villagers underwater or wait for receding floodwaters, echoing dilemmas from Thailand’s 2018 cave rescue.
—Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Lynn’s theory promised to resolve all their dilemmas.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilemmas
Noun
-
Liverpool’s struggles at right-back have been well-documented this season, with Alexander-Arnold’s sale to Real Madrid followed by injury problems for Bradley and new signing Jeremie Frimpong.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
Severe erosion in recent years means less sand buffer to safeguard the homes, erosion problems Wedge bodysurfer Sean Starky has been watching the past few years as the ocean inches closer to the homes.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
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The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The life of a globe-trotting environmentalist is a breeding ground for moral quandaries.—
Rob Wolfe,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Three little people’s romantic quandaries are indeed inextricable from the crazy world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Other condiments that can be stored in the door compartments include pickles, olives, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, jam, peanut butter, and sauces like hot sauce.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
-
Note that pickles made with a salt brine, like Martha's Sour Pickles, are fermented foods, while those made quickly with vinegar are not.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dilemmas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilemmas. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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