dilemma

noun

A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.

Any difficult circumstance or problem.

(rhetoric) Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.

(logic) 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".

Roots

disdi- · Latin · apart, not lambanein-lemma · Greek · to take, receive

Synonyms for dilemma

quandaryn predicamentn problemn paradoxn perplexityn plightn riddlen impassen puzzlementn enigman

Synonyms & related words for dilemma

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Words related to dilemma

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Synonyms for dilemma

Common synonyms for dilemma include quandary, predicament, problem, paradox, perplexity, plight, riddle, impasse — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does dilemma come from?

The word dilemma breaks down into 2 roots of Latin and Greek origin: di-, from Latin dis (“apart, not”); and -lemma, from Greek lambanein (“to take, receive”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.