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
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Recent Examples of dilemmas
Three Tri-Valley school districts are facing significant financial dilemmas heading into next year, with budget cuts and potential layoffs threatening to hit classrooms.
—
Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
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, 31 Jan. 2026
At their best, superhero stories can be potent metaphors for tangible human dilemmas.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2026
Both dilemmas are true for too many of the few cities in Imperial County.
—John Moorlach, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 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
But the body concerns and identity dilemmas associated with middle age are different from those that plague adolescence and young adulthood.
—Rebecca Lester, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025
In some organizations, AI ethics advisory boards report directly to the audit or risk committee, tackling dilemmas like data misuse or algorithmic bias head-on.
—Rohan Sharma, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Fred’s gentle, deliberate approach focused on preschoolers’ emotional development, while Peter’s fast-paced, comedic shows tackled the social dynamics and moral dilemmas of adolescence.
—Carl Kurlander, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2025
Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
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, 31 Jan. 2026
At their best, superhero stories can be potent metaphors for tangible human dilemmas.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2026
Both dilemmas are true for too many of the few cities in Imperial County.
—John Moorlach, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 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
But the body concerns and identity dilemmas associated with middle age are different from those that plague adolescence and young adulthood.
—Rebecca Lester, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025
In some organizations, AI ethics advisory boards report directly to the audit or risk committee, tackling dilemmas like data misuse or algorithmic bias head-on.
—Rohan Sharma, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Fred’s gentle, deliberate approach focused on preschoolers’ emotional development, while Peter’s fast-paced, comedic shows tackled the social dynamics and moral dilemmas of adolescence.
—Carl Kurlander, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilemmas
Noun
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Advocates say overcrowding is at the center of many of the jail's ongoing problems, from maintenance failures to safety concerns, and argue that recent flooding highlights deeper, long-standing issues.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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The problems with that are 1) convincing the Kings to take back long-term salary for Sabonis and 2) the Raptors are nearly $1 million into the luxury tax and would love to get under that threshold before the deadline.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Rustin has slyly given her script a focus on women’s needs and feelings, a welcome departure for a genre that usually is more concerned about the men’s predicaments.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
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Brooks’s screenplay makes ample space to dump praise upon its protagonist while bemoaning her many predicaments.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In both Landman and Goliath, Thornton’s characters are flawed anti-heroes who struggle with substance abuse and the moral quandaries of doing what’s right.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
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These are enduring human quandaries.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Serve it with or without a bun plus your favorite toppings like pickles, slaw, and extra sauce.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Sook by Maydan is offering a $ 15-per-person Dine LA lunch menu with a choice of beef wrap or chicken shish taouk wrap, served with house pickles, labneh spread, and a farmers market side salad.—
Kaila Yu,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dilemmas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilemmas. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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