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
In southern states like Georgia and Florida, tariff uncertainty has compounded ongoing climate risks, creating a double bind for producers navigating both economic and environmental volatility.
—
Artem Milinchuk, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Homebuyers now face a double bind: inflated prices and higher monthly payments.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
After October 7th, the magazine found itself in an agonizing double bind.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
Thus, leading to a double bind for Black women athletes such as Reese.
—Lindsey Darvin, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for double bind
Artem Milinchuk, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Homebuyers now face a double bind: inflated prices and higher monthly payments.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
After October 7th, the magazine found itself in an agonizing double bind.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
Thus, leading to a double bind for Black women athletes such as Reese.
—Lindsey Darvin, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for double bind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double bind
Noun
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Bigelow and screenwriter Noah Oppenheim construct a frighteningly plausible scenario in which a multitude of dilemmas—practical and personal, bureaucratic and existential—overlap in real time and at a mounting rate.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
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Recent tours to the U.S. have been trickier, leaving them with the dilemma of whether sleep is really that important as kick-off times stretch into the early hours.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Noun
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Even low levels of drinking can lead to certain cancers and heart problems, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Poll results were released Aug. 13.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
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Roblox stock is down 9% this past week alone in the wake of all this, and now, it’s just issued a bunch of new safety updates trying to prune some of the problems away.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Double bind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20bind. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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