dilemma
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di·lem·ma
(dĭ-lĕm′ə)n.
1. A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or unsatisfactory.
2. Usage Problem A problem that seems to defy a satisfactory solution.
3. Logic An argument that presents two alternatives, each of which has the same consequence.
[Late Latin, from Greek dilēmma, ambiguous proposition : di-, two; see di-1 + lēmma, proposition; see lemma1.]
dil′em·mat′ic (dĭl′ə-măt′ĭk) adj.
Usage Note: In its traditional use, dilemma refers to a situation in which a choice must be made between alternative courses of action or argument. The word is also used more loosely to mean "problem" or "predicament" without implying that a choice must be made. This usage has been criticized by language critics, and the Usage Panel still supports this view, but this support has been eroding over time. In our 1999 survey, 58 percent of the Usage Panel rejected the sentence Historically, race has been the great dilemma of democracy. This is a significant decrease from the 74 percent that rejected a similar sentence in 1988. · It is sometimes claimed that because the di- in dilemma comes from a Greek prefix meaning "two," the word should be used only when exactly two choices are involved. In 2005, some 58 percent of the Panel reported that they followed this restriction in their own writing. The remaining 42 percent said that the word could acceptably be used for more than two choices. It seems unlikely that writers will be taken to task for ignoring the two-choice limit.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
dilemma
(dɪˈlɛmə; daɪ-)n
1. a situation necessitating a choice between two equal, esp equally undesirable, alternatives
2. a problem that seems incapable of a solution
3. (Logic) 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. on the horns of a dilemma
a. faced with the choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
b. in an awkward situation
[C16: via Latin from Greek, from di-1 + lēmma assumption, proposition, from lambanein to take, grasp]
dilemmatic, dilˈemmic adj
Usage: The use of dilemma to refer to a problem that seems incapable of a solution is considered by some people to be incorrect
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
di•lem•ma
(dɪˈlɛm ə)n., pl. -mas.
1. a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
2. any perplexing situation or problem.
3. a form of syllogism in which the major premise is formed of two or more conditional 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.”
[1515–25; < Late Latin < Greek dílēmma=di- di-1 + lêmma an assumption, premise, derivative of lambánein to take]
dil•em•mat•ic (ˌdɪl əˈmæt ɪk) adj.
dil`em•mat′i•cal•ly, adv.
syn: See predicament.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  dilemma - state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable optionsperplexity - trouble or confusion resulting from complexity double bind - (psychology) an unresolvable dilemma; situation in which a person receives contradictory messages from a person who is very powerful |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
dilemma
noun predicament, problem, difficulty, spot (informal), fix (informal), mess, puzzle, jam (informal), embarrassment, plight, strait, pickle (informal), how-do-you-do (informal), quandary, perplexity, tight corner or spot The issue raises a moral dilemma.
on the horns of a dilemma between the devil and the deep blue sea, between a rock and a hard place (informal), between Scylla and Charybdis I found myself on the horns of a dilemma - whatever I did, it would be wrong.
Usage: The use of dilemma to refer to a problem that seems incapable of a solution is considered by some people to be incorrect. To avoid this misuse of the word, an appropriate alternative such as predicament could be used.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
dilemma
nounThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
وَرْطَةوَرْطَه، مَأْزِق
dilema
dilemma
pulmatilanne
dilema
dilemma
ógöngur, valòröng
ジレンマ
딜레마
dilema
dilemma
dilema
dilemma
สภาวะลำบาก
tình thế khó xử
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
dilemma
[dɪˈlɛmə daɪˈlɛmə] n → dilemme mto be in a dilemma → être pris(e) dans un dilemme
to raise a dilemma → soulever un dilemme
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
dilemma
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
dilemma
(diˈlemə) , (ˈdailemə) noun a position or situation giving two choices, neither pleasant. His dilemma was whether to leave the party early so as to get a lift in his friend's car, or to stay and walk eight kilometres home.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
dilemma
→ وَرْطَة dilema dilemma Dilemma δίλημμα dilema pulmatilanne dilemme dilema dilemma ジレンマ 딜레마 dilemma dilemma dylemat dilema дилемма dilemma สภาวะลำบาก ikilem tình thế khó xử 窘境Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009