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
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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
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
Some of the party’s dilemmas were reflected in a dichotomy between remarks urging bolder action and speakers who appeared to recommend more caution, or at least selectiveness.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 20 May 2026
The doctor–patient relationship is also frequently beset by dilemmas and decisions beyond the pathology at hand.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Still, even after the election, Magyar has remained relentlessly on message—which is to say, vague and tight-lipped, leaving several inconvenient dilemmas unaddressed.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Researchers then provided examples of thoughtful responses to ethical dilemmas, which the model learned from via supervised learning.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 9 May 2026
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
Some of the party’s dilemmas were reflected in a dichotomy between remarks urging bolder action and speakers who appeared to recommend more caution, or at least selectiveness.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 20 May 2026
The doctor–patient relationship is also frequently beset by dilemmas and decisions beyond the pathology at hand.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Still, even after the election, Magyar has remained relentlessly on message—which is to say, vague and tight-lipped, leaving several inconvenient dilemmas unaddressed.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Researchers then provided examples of thoughtful responses to ethical dilemmas, which the model learned from via supervised learning.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilemmas
Noun
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Common travel regrets stem from preventable issues like poor planning, budget problems, and choosing the wrong companions.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The inability to forgive was causing seismic problems in their lives.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
2 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
-
The life of a globe-trotting environmentalist is a breeding ground for moral quandaries.—
Rob Wolfe,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
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Three little people’s romantic quandaries are indeed inextricable from the crazy world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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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