dilemma

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Pronunciation

• enPR: dī-lĕmʹə or dĭ-lĕmʹə, IPA: /daɪˈlɛmə/, /dɪˈlɛmə/

Noun

dilemma (plural dilemmas)

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

   Synonyms: Thesaurus:dilemma

   • 1731, Jonathan Swift, "An Epistle to Mr. Gay"

     A strong dilemma in a desperate case! / To act with infamy, or quit the place.

2. A difficult circumstance or problem.

   Synonyms: bind, fix, pickle, problem, quandary

3. (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".
4. (rhetoric) Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.

Related terms

• lemma
• trilemma
• tetralemma
• pentalemma

Translations

• French: dilemme
• German: Dilemma
• Italian: dilemma
• Portuguese: dilema
• Russian: диле́мма
• Spanish: dilema, disyuntiva

Translations

• Italian: dilemma
• Portuguese: dilema
• Russian: диле́мма
• Spanish: dilema

Translations

• Portuguese: dilema
• Spanish: dilema

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