What does dilemma mean?
Definitions for dilemma
dɪˈlɛm ədilem·ma
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word dilemma.
Princeton's WordNet
dilemma, quandarynoun
state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
Wiktionary
dilemmanoun
A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
dilemmanoun
(disputed) A difficult circumstance or problem.
dilemmanoun
A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".
dilemmanoun
Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Dilemmanoun
Etymology: διλημμα.
A dilemma, that bishop Morton the chancellor used, to raise benevolence, some called his fork, and some his crutch. Francis Bacon, Henry VII.
Hope, whose weak being ruin’d is
Alike if it succeed, and if it miss;
Whom good or ill does equally confound,
And both the horns of fate’s dilemma wound. Abraham Cowley.A strong dilemma in a desp’rate case!
To act with infamy, or quit the place. Jonathan Swift.A dire dilemma; either way I’m sped;
If foes, they write, if friends, they read me dead. Alexander Pope.
Wikipedia
Dilemma
A dilemma (Greek: δίλημμα "double proposition") is a problem offering two possibilities, neither of which is unambiguously acceptable or preferable. The possibilities are termed the horns of the dilemma, a clichéd usage, but distinguishing the dilemma from other kinds of predicament as a matter of usage.
Webster Dictionary
Dilemmanoun
an argument which presents an antagonist with two or more alternatives, but is equally conclusive against him, whichever alternative he chooses
Dilemmanoun
a state of things in which evils or obstacles present themselves on every side, and it is difficult to determine what course to pursue; a vexatious alternative or predicament; a difficult choice or position
Etymology: [L. dilemma, Gr. ; di- = di`s- twice + to take. See Lemma.]
Freebase
Dilemma
A dilemma is a problem offering two possibilities, neither of which is practically acceptable. One in this position has been traditionally described as "being on the horns of a dilemma", neither horn being comfortable. This is sometimes more colorfully described as "Finding oneself impaled upon the horns of a dilemma", referring to the sharp points of a bull's horns, equally uncomfortable. The dilemma is sometimes used as a rhetorical device, in the form "you must accept either A, or B"; here A and B would be propositions each leading to some further conclusion. Applied incorrectly, it constitutes a false dichotomy, a fallacy.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Dilemma
di-lem′a, n. a form of argument in which the maintainer of a certain proposition is committed to accept one of two alternative propositions each of which contradicts his original contention: a position where each of two alternative courses (or of all the feasible courses) is eminently undesirable: a trying practical difficulty. The argument was called a 'horned syllogism,' and the victim compared to a man certain to be impaled on one or other of the horns of an infuriated bull, hence the Horns of a dilemma: the usual phrase Landed in a dilemma is, or suggests, a mixed metaphor.—adj. Dilemmat′ic. [L.,—Gr. dilēmma—di-, twice, double, lēmma, an assumption—lambanein, to take.]
Matched Categories
British National Corpus
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'dilemma' in Nouns Frequency: #2434
Anagrams for dilemma »
midmeal
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of dilemma in Chaldean Numerology is: 4
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of dilemma in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Examples of dilemma in a Sentence
The dilemma posed by the creditors, truce or destruction, is fake and terroristic and has been demolished in the public conscience.
This is a dilemma. It's a classic dilemma. We want to provide the equipment that Ukraine needs to survive. We don't want to push Russian President Vladimir Putin into World War III or a nuclear confrontation, it is only the President who can make this decision, and he has urged caution. I can make arguments of one side or the other.
This is ultimately a moral dilemma between the good of the majority of the population based on an improved economy, versus those most damaged by letting this disease continue to spread and potentially letting the hospital system be overwhelmed, it's not just about economics, it's a moral decision.
Santos' government has a dilemma of persisting with the policy of war and pacification or dare to take a true path to peace.
This is what we need to study - from a legal point of view, the dilemma is this: if we continue to withhold (exports) they won't complete the smelter projects and everyone loses.
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Translations for dilemma
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- معArabic
- дылемаBelarusian
- дилемаBulgarian
- dilemaCzech
- DilemmaGerman
- δίλημμαGreek
- dilemoEsperanto
- dilemaSpanish
- pulma, dilemmaFinnish
- dilemmeFrench
- דילמהHebrew
- दुविधाHindi
- dilemoIdo
- dilemmaItalian
- דִילHebrew
- ジレンマJapanese
- 딜레마Korean
- dilemmaLatin
- ധര്മ്മസങ്കടംMalayalam
- dilemmaDutch
- dylematPolish
- dilemaPortuguese
- дилеммаRussian
- дилема, dilemaSerbo-Croatian
- dilemaSlovak
- dilemmaSwedish
- విచికిత్సTelugu
- ภาวะที่กลืนไม่เข้าคายไม่ออกThai
- ikilemTurkish
- дилемаUkrainian
- دشمنیUrdu
- dilämVolapük
- 困境Chinese
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"dilemma." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 8 Feb. 2023. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/dilemma>.
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