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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dilemma
Supercars, of course, raise ethical dilemmas simply by existing, and touring factories that produce the gas-guzzling machines in the age of climate change can feel out of touch.
—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
The feed surfaces chats containing legal dilemmas, therapy discussions, and deeply personal confessions, often linked to real accounts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
The dilemma GenAI faces is similar to past hyped technology cycles like IoT or blockchain.
—Leonard Lee, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
The scripts can't decide if Parker is villainous or righteous (and not in a moral dilemma way, just in a bad writing way), and poor Ramos is left in the middle.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dilemma
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
The feed surfaces chats containing legal dilemmas, therapy discussions, and deeply personal confessions, often linked to real accounts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
The dilemma GenAI faces is similar to past hyped technology cycles like IoT or blockchain.
—Leonard Lee, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
The scripts can't decide if Parker is villainous or righteous (and not in a moral dilemma way, just in a bad writing way), and poor Ramos is left in the middle.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dilemma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilemma
Noun
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Use cloud access or a small on-premises system to tackle a high-value optimization or simulation problem where classical methods struggle.—
Yuval Boger,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
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In the following years, the early flood warning system that Eastland advocated for – and was once considered state-of-the-art – started to suffer problems.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Considering its financial predicament and wealth of center backs, Barca could be tempted to sell the South American warhorse if a European rival tables his asking price.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
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But by making plain that the students were a token in his trade war, Trump only increased the uncertainty of their predicament.—
Lavender Au,
The Atlantic,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Often the answer to my summertime weeknight dinner quandary is my Crispy Gnocchi Caprese.—
Alexis deBoschnek,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2025
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That’s the consensus on Reddit, where people often post their quandaries to crowdsource ethics.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2025
Noun
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The vinegar used to quick pickle the onions also adds a vinegary pungency to the salad, and dill and basil work together to add fresh and herbaceous notes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
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Some foods and drinks high in electrolytes include watermelon, coconut water, leafy green vegetables, bone broth, pickles, and more.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dilemma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilemma. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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