dilemma

American  

[dih-lem-uh] / dɪˈlɛm ə /

noun

dilemmas plural

1. a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.

2. any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.

   Synonyms:

   difficulty, question

3. Logic. a form of syllogism in which the major premise is formed of two or more hypothetical propositions and the minor premise is a disjunctive proposition, as “If A, then B; if C then D. Either A or C. Therefore, either B or D.”

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dilemma British  

/ dɪˈlɛmə, ˌdɪlɪˈmætɪk, daɪ-, ˌdaɪlɪ- /

noun

1. a situation necessitating a choice between two equal, esp equally undesirable, alternatives

2. a problem that seems incapable of a solution

3. logic a form of argument one of whose premises is the conjunction of two conditional statements and the other of which affirms the disjunction of their antecedents, and whose conclusion is the disjunction of their consequents. Its form is if p then q and if r then s; either p or r so either q or s

4. 1. faced with the choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives

   2. in an awkward situation

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dilemma Idioms  

1. see horns of a dilemma.

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Usage

The use of dilemma to refer to a problem that seems incapable of a solution is considered by some people to be incorrect

Synonym Usage

See predicament.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dilemmatic
  adjective
• dilemmatical
  adjective
• dilemmic
  adjective
• dilemmatically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• dilemmas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dilemma

First recorded in 1515–25; from Late Latin, from Greek dílēmma, equivalent to di- “two, twice” ( see di- ¹) + lêmma “an assumption, premise,” derivative of lambánein “to take”

Explanation

A dilemma is a tough choice. When you're in a difficult situation and each option looks equally bad, you're in a dilemma. Dilemma is from a Greek for "double proposition." It was originally a technical term of logic, but we use it now for any time you have a problem with no satisfactory solution. If you're at the mall choosing between red or blue socks, that's not really a dilemma. But if you have to choose whether to save your cat or your dog from a burning building, that's an awful dilemma.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dilemma dilemmas

A dilemma for the EU is how to avoid different age limits across 27 countries.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

Holly Elmore had a dilemma on her hands: What to do about Sam Kirchner’s demands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

The series has been applauded for its mix of drama, comedy and strangeness in its portrait of a woman coming to terms to what seems like an impossible dilemma.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

"It wasn't a dilemma at all. This was as close to a no-brainer as a business can get," he says.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

As Woodward tells the story, the end of slavery created an extraordinary dilemma for Southern white society.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

By the end, screenwriter Ana Nogueira tees up some compelling moral dilemmas about the ethics of revenge, but Gillespie’s direction fails to entertain them with the weight they deserve.

From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026

Besides, D.C. could even offer the DNC a solution to what is otherwise sure to be a process full of hideous legal and political dilemmas.

From Slate ● May 26, 2026

These dilemmas that these people in the industry are going through, I wonder if you and I, if we were in that same position, how we would do it.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

The arguments playing out in Moerdijk echo wider dilemmas across the Netherlands.

From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026

For William, who liked to be aboveboard in everything, this posed ethical dilemmas.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• difficulty
• embarrassment
• impasse
• mess
• plight
• predicament
• problem
• puzzle
• quandary