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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dilemma
The Washington Post: The U.S. military mission in Syria will pose an early dilemma for Trump.
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Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 24 Dec. 2024
Eggers’s dilemma is figuring out how to stay faithful to his material while adding a dash of originality.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 24 Dec. 2024
This wrinkle presented a moral dilemma for the couple.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
However, this latest dilemma has been made more complicated not only by the presence of President-elect Donald Trump but also by billionaire Elon Musk.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dilemma 
Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 24 Dec. 2024
Eggers’s dilemma is figuring out how to stay faithful to his material while adding a dash of originality.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 24 Dec. 2024
This wrinkle presented a moral dilemma for the couple.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
However, this latest dilemma has been made more complicated not only by the presence of President-elect Donald Trump but also by billionaire Elon Musk.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dilemma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilemma
Noun
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Donkeys are also more prone to health issues, such as dental problems and skin conditions, that may require specialized care.George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
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There are undoubtedly a multitude of factors that help to explain this complex problem.Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Donald Trump Taunts Panama: 'Welcome To The United States Canal' By David Faris Associate Professor, Roosevelt University 0 As the sun rises on 2025—at least in the parts of the country where there is January sunlight—America's basic predicament has become clearer.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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Just Recorded One of the Largest In-Bounds Avalanches in Its History Extreme Skier Greg Hill Goes Deep on Risk and Adrenaline in His New Book The avalanche center’s decision to pull back from Seeley Lake is a result of the recent budget and staffing predicament within the National Forest Service.Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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For Jodi Picoult — the author of 29 books, including Mad Honey, Handle With Care, and My Sister’s Keeper — politics has always gone hand in hand with writing novels about moral quandaries and familial sagas.CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024
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All of the converging factors post a potential threat to Trump, whose policies otherwise, such as tax breaks and tariffs, are projected by some economists to add to the inflation quandary.Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Stir thoroughly and garnish with celery, olives, or a pickle.Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
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Then place any small dishes such as olives or pickles (see Accoutrements below) on the board first.Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dilemma
Cite this Entry
“Dilemma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilemma. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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