˜yÐÄvlog

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dilemma

[ dih-lem-uh ]

noun

  1. a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
  2. any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.

    Synonyms: ,

  3. Logic. a form of syllogism in which the major premise is formed of two or more hypothetical propositions and the minor premise is a disjunctive proposition, as “If A, then B; if C then D. Either A or C. Therefore, either B or D.â€


dilemma

/ dɪˈlɛmə; ˌdɪlɪˈmætɪk; daɪ-; ˌdaɪlɪ- /

noun

  1. a situation necessitating a choice between two equal, esp equally undesirable, alternatives
  2. a problem that seems incapable of a solution
  3. logic a form of argument one of whose premises is the conjunction of two conditional statements and the other of which affirms the disjunction of their antecedents, and whose conclusion is the disjunction of their consequents. Its form is if p then q and if r then s; either p or r so either q or s
  4. on the horns of a dilemma
    1. faced with the choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
    2. in an awkward situation
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage

The use of dilemma to refer to a problem that seems incapable of a solution is considered by some people to be incorrect
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Derived Forms

  • dilemmatic, adjective
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Other ˜yÐÄvlog Forms

  • »å¾±±ô·±ð³¾Â·³¾²¹³Ù·¾±³¦ [dil-, uh, -, mat, -ik], »å¾±±ôe³¾Â·³¾²¹³Ùi·³¦²¹±ô »å¾±Â·±ô±ð³¾î€ƒm¾±³¦ adjective
  • »å¾±±ôe³¾Â·³¾²¹³Ùi·³¦²¹±ô·ly adverb
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of dilemma1

First recorded in 1515–25; from Late Latin, from Greek »åí±ôŧ³¾³¾²¹, equivalent to di- “two, twice†( di- 1 ) + ±ôê³¾³¾²¹ “an assumption, premise,†derivative of ±ô²¹³¾²úá²Ô±ð¾±²Ô “to takeâ€
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of dilemma1

C16: via Latin from Greek, from di- 1+ ±ôŧ³¾³¾²¹ assumption, proposition, from lambanein to take, grasp
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Idioms and Phrases

see horns of a dilemma .
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In “The Bondsman,†now streaming on Prime Video, Hub Halloran, his latest character, has a different dilemma.

From

So as they meet in an emergency session after the verdict, party leaders are in a dilemma.

From

Liverpool are his boyhood club, so I can understand why leaving them is more of a dilemma, but sometimes as a player you have to make these decisions about where your future lies.

From

This has created a political dilemma for Poilievre, Mr Wesley noted, who is now lagging in national polls behind Carney and the Liberals - a dramatic reversal after his party had been ahead since mid-2023.

From

But grappling with the dilemma of who he would chose as his wife was agonizing.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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