double bind

Definition of double bindnext
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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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of double bind As if breaking the law would offer a symbolic release from this double bind, the third video documents Liden trespassing into the apartment of an anonymous hoarder. Erika Landström, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Cast members of color, on the other hand, are often trapped in a double bind of sorts. Shamira Ibrahim, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026 China is already facing a double bind of labor shortages in some sectors and unemployment in others. Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026 This double bind can be traumatic. Hind Haddad, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for double bind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double bind
Noun
  • In India’s tech city Bengaluru, 24-year-old graphic designer Aditi Garg faces a similar dilemma.
    Priyanka Salve,Raksha Murali, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The backtracking illustrates how the politics of criminal justice have shifted since 2020, posing dilemmas for Democrats’ midterm strategy and their ability to enact their preferred solutions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • That is where the building blocks of competency, problem-solving, and care for others complement and reinforce instead of competing and creating gaps.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • In the study, ChatGPT Health performed better with classic problems like a stroke or anaphylaxis, but when people downplayed symptoms, the AI tended toward a less urgent recommendation.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Double bind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double%20bind. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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