dilemma

də-ˈle-mə 3 syllables uncommon

  1. noun.a usually undesirable or unpleasant choice

    • faces this dilemma: raise prices or reduce staff
    • Here am I brought to a very pretty dilemma; I must commit murder or commit matrimony …

  2. noun.a situation involving such a choice; broadly: predicament

    • Lords and bailiffs were in a terrible dilemma.
    • … the dilemma of "liberty versus order."

  3. noun.a problem involving a difficult choice

    • Unemployment … the great central dilemma of our advancing technology.
Source

Origin

Late Latin, from Late Greek dilēmmat-, dilēmma, probably back-formation from Greek dilēmmatos involving two assumptions, from di- + lēmmat-, lēmma assumption.

Related Words

7-Letter Words
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Noun
2025