dilemma
dih-LEM-uh
/dɪˈlɛmə/
A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones.
Often implies a moral choice where all options have significant drawbacks, making it a true 'ethical dilemma.'
The story behind the word. The word 'dilemma' comes from the Greek 'dilemma,' combining 'di-' (two) and 'lemma' (premise, proposition). It originally referred to a rhetorical argument that presented an opponent with two equally unfavorable alternatives. This academic sense evolved into its modern meaning of a situation requiring a choice between two difficult or undesirable options, often with moral implications, making it a true 'two-pronged' problem.
Word relationships
- predicament: A difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
- quandary: A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
- conundrum: A confusing and difficult problem or question.
- solution: A means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
- certainty: Firm conviction that something is the case.
Commonly confused with
- problem: A problem is a general difficulty, whereas a dilemma specifically implies a choice between two or more equally undesirable options.
Collocations
- ethical dilemma
- moral dilemma
- difficult dilemma
- face a dilemma
- resolve a dilemma
Example sentences
- "The trolley problem is a classic ethical dilemma that forces a choice between two tragic outcomes." In ethical philosophy.
- "She faced a moral dilemma: report her friend's misconduct or protect their loyalty." In personal decision-making.
- "Developers often face an ethical dilemma when balancing user privacy with data utility." In technological development.
Memory hook
A 'DILEMMA' has 'DI' (two) difficult 'LEMMA's (choices). Two bad choices.
When not to use
Avoid using 'dilemma' for simple problems or choices that are not genuinely difficult or do not involve two equally unappealing options. 'Problem' or 'challenge' might be more appropriate.
Fun facts
- The 'horn of a dilemma' is an idiom referring to each of the two difficult choices in a dilemma.
Related words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.