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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dilemma Trump acknowledged the financial dilemma a loss of tariffs would create. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025 The scale and circumstances are different, but the dilemma remains the same. Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025 More Slitz/Getty Images Grisham is slated to hit free agency after the season, and pursuing him will be an interesting dilemma for the Yankees. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 Ethical considerations have always been inherent to the development of technology, and examining historical challenges can offer valuable insights for navigating similar dilemmas in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Kathleen Kramer, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dilemma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilemma
Noun
  • Today, Anousheh is the CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation, an organization that has helped solve massive social problems by setting grand challenges for teams to compete and solve.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Folks, the problem is not the sign, the decor or the politics.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Talking about his predicament in a shaded wedge of grass near the center of Harvard Yard, Sial speaks with a mixture of passion, frustration and weariness, pushing back the shaggy hair that frequently falls over his eyes.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
  • All of that resonates with the predicament of Lily Bart.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Stay tuned to read about myths, quandaries, benefits and what's next in the evolution of AI agents in the next part of my article.
    Karpagam Narayanan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Christian thinkers sometimes solved the quandary of the wondrous peoples by claiming them as descendants of Cain or Ham, writes den Hartog.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Not all that long ago Cadillac was in a pickle.
    Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Dill is an easy herb to grow and its unique anise flavor complements salads and meats and adds tang to a jar of pickles.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dilemma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilemma. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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