1
as in problem
a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices
faced with a dilemma of whether to risk continuing to drive in the dangerous storm or to give up searching for the lost dog and hope he survived
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in predicament
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
with home prices in a free fall, sellers were in a terrible dilemma
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dilemma
Eric Muller: Federal workers may soon face moral dilemmas.
—
Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2025
Advice on life’s trickiest situations and moral dilemmas from the philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
To its credit, Doc is more adept at crafting moral dilemmas that force its characters to reckon with the cost of saving one child at the expense of another’s health, or a patient’s right to know a secret that could destroy his family.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
The dilemma in attaining true freedom led them to pray, sing, shout, and embody the Holy Spirit for hours leading up to midnight on the first.
—Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dilemma 
Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2025
Advice on life’s trickiest situations and moral dilemmas from the philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
To its credit, Doc is more adept at crafting moral dilemmas that force its characters to reckon with the cost of saving one child at the expense of another’s health, or a patient’s right to know a secret that could destroy his family.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
The dilemma in attaining true freedom led them to pray, sing, shout, and embody the Holy Spirit for hours leading up to midnight on the first.
—Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dilemma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilemma
Noun
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Jones suffered the problem towards the end of the first half of Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Lille.—
Andy Jones,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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After one such outage, at their wedding, El Khoury and Abu-Rish took a vow to get to the bottom of the seemingly intractable problem.—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Willard didn’t envy Illinois coach Brad Underwood’s predicament against Maryland’s big men.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2025
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Though bucks are known to get their antlers tangled up during fights on rare occasions, this predicament was particularly challenging — and called for very steady aim, according to wildlife officials.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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My biggest quandary is whether to order it as a plate, which comes with small flour tortillas, a plate of creamy refried beans and an all-access pass to the salsa bar, or swaddled in a giant, chewy flour tortilla as a burrito.—
Felicia Campbell,
The Arizona Republic,
24 Dec. 2024
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After 50+ years exploring the far corners of the world, the director focuses inward — on the human brain, via the cutting-edge field of neuroscience, with its attendant ethical quandaries.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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While James Beard-finalist chef Pushkar Marathe grew up in India, and his Stage menu does play with lots of chutneys and pickle, his small dishes are inflected with all kinds of global flavors, such as Korean bbq ribs with gochujang sauce and kimchi aioli.—
John Oseid,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
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For me, simple congee with pickles and pork floss was perfect to help with digestion after more than a week of decadent meals.—
Amber Gibson,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near dilemma
Cite this Entry
“Dilemma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilemma. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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