Dilemma (Noun)
Meaning
State of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The doctor was faced with a dilemma when two patients needed the same organ transplant immediately, but only one was available.
- Her decision to either take a low-paying job with a stable company or a high-paying job in a struggling industry presented her with a difficult dilemma.
- After the natural disaster, the authorities were in a dilemma as to whether to allocate the limited resources to rebuilding homes or providing food and shelter.
- The student was in a dilemma about whether to take an unpaid internship that could lead to a full-time job or a part-time job that would help with tuition fees.
- The government was in a dilemma as to whether to increase taxes to reduce the national debt or to cut public spending and risk causing widespread unemployment.