as in dilemma
a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices
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
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Recent Examples of double bind
This double bind can be traumatic.
—
Hind Haddad, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2025
Now they're caught in a double bind: 85% of the mineral fertilizer potash used by American farmers comes from Canada, while our northern neighbor also provides a quarter of farmers' nitrogen needs.
—Phil Lempert, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
During the Biden Presidency, the government faced a double bind with Venezuelans: Their country, run by a vicious dictator and beset by a humanitarian crisis, had for years refused to accept deportations from the U.S.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
That leaves the consumer in a double bind: still resilient, but increasingly forced to be discerning, particularly in a world where prices perniciously creep up.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for double bind
Hind Haddad, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2025
Now they're caught in a double bind: 85% of the mineral fertilizer potash used by American farmers comes from Canada, while our northern neighbor also provides a quarter of farmers' nitrogen needs.
—Phil Lempert, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
During the Biden Presidency, the government faced a double bind with Venezuelans: Their country, run by a vicious dictator and beset by a humanitarian crisis, had for years refused to accept deportations from the U.S.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
That leaves the consumer in a double bind: still resilient, but increasingly forced to be discerning, particularly in a world where prices perniciously creep up.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for double bind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double bind
Noun
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Despite all the developments since the FOMC’s last meeting, Boston College economics professor Brian Bethune said the Fed’s dilemma has not changed.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
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Helen is said to have sacrificed a promising acting career to star in her husband’s films and raise their kids, adding an interesting wrinkle to Ula’s dilemma about breaking the news of her next gig to her parents.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Five things • Utah State has a younger version of Goon, and that was a problem Saturday for the Aztecs.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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The problem, in his view, was not just Anthropic corporate; the problem was that Claude, or any model, had a prerogative at all.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Double bind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20bind. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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