double binds

Definition of double bindsnext
plural of double bind
as in dilemmas
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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for double binds
Noun
  • 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, 19 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
Noun
  • The report says that this financial dependence may also make people less likely to report problems and change the data that platforms use to make safety features.
    Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Some point to ongoing problems, such as objects being placed in roadways, including large boulders.
    Nina Burns, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Double binds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20binds. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

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