dilemma

di·lem·ma  (d-lm)

n.

1. A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive.

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.

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[Late Latin, from Greek dilmma, ambiguous proposition : di-, two; see di-¹ + lmma, proposition; see lemma¹.]

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dilem·matic (dl-mtk) adj.

Usage Note: In its main sense dilemma refers to a situation in which a choice must be made between alternative courses of action or argument. Although citational evidence attests to widespread use of the term meaning simply "a problem" or "a predicament" and involving no issue of choice, 74 percent of the Usage Panel rejects the sentence Juvenile drug abuse is the great dilemma of the 1980s.·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. Nevertheless, 64 percent of the Usage Panel accepts its use for choices among three or more options.

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dilemma

Noun

a situation offering a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives [Greek di- double + lēmma proposition]

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

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

dilemma - state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options quandary perplexity - 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

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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 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

USAGE The use of dilemma to refer to a problem that seems incapable of 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.

Translations

dilemma [daɪˈlɛmə] n → dilema m;

to be in a dilemma → estar en un dilema

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dilemma [daɪˈlɛmə] n → dilemme m;

to be in a dilemma → être pris dans un dilemme

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dilemma [daɪˈlɛmə] n → Dilemma nt;

to be in a dilemma → sich in einem Dilemma befinden, in der Klemme sitzen (inf)

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dilemma [daɪˈlɛmə] n → dilemma m;

to be in a dilemma → essere di fronte a un dilemma