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dilemma

/daɪˈlɛmə/
Meanings
  • noun

    A situation in which a person is forced to make a choice between two unwelcome alternatives.

    - "She was faced with a dilemma: to tell the truth and risk losing her friend's trust, or to lie and maintain the peace."
    - "The company's dilemma was whether to invest in a new project with uncertain returns or to focus on improving existing products."
Pronunciation
  1. /daɪˈlɛmə/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=180104"
Synonyms

bind , fix , pickle , problem , quandary
Rhymes
Words rhyming with dilemma
jubilee , legacy , symphony
Variants
List of all variants of dilemma that leads to same result
dilemma , dilemmas , dilemmatic , on the horns of a dilemma
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Latin word 'dilemma', meaning 'a two-way choice' or 'a dilemma'.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The word 'dilemma' first appeared in English in the 16th century.

  2. The term 'dilemma' comes from the Latin word 'dilatare', which means 'to expand'.

  3. In mathematics, a dilemma is a type of equation that has more variables than equations, making it impossible to solve uniquely.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. ethical dilemma: A situation in which a person is forced to choose between two morally wrong alternatives.

  2. cognitive dilemma: A mental conflict or problem that arises when trying to process conflicting information or make a decision.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. When it comes to the boss, there is a real "dilemma". You're caught between a career-limiting rejection of virtual friendship or a career-limiting access to photos of yourself glassy-eyed at a party.

    - Jared Sandberg,{it}Wall Street Journal{/it},10 July 2007

  2. What's a pampered 20-something to do when her rich fiancé goes on a business trip and comes back married to someone else? That's the "dilemma" facing Elle Medina in Nichols's delightfully silly, vivacious debut.

    - {it}Publishers Weekly{/it},28 June 2004

  3. Both authors are prepared to dwell as long on the savor of a ripe melon as on the significance of a moral "dilemma".

    - Roger Shattuck,{it}New York Review of Books{/it},13 June 2002
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The concept of a dilemma is often explored in literature, philosophy, and psychology. In literature, dilemmas are used to create tension and conflict in stories. In philosophy, ethical dilemmas are used to explore moral dilemmas and the nature of right and wrong. In psychology, cognitive dilemmas are used to describe the mental processes involved in making decisions.

How to Memorize "dilemma"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a fork in the road, with two paths leading in different directions. This is a visual representation of a dilemma.
    - Visualize a scale, with two pans representing the two unwelcome alternatives. Which pan will you tip the scale towards?

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'dilemma' with the word 'choice'. Remember, a dilemma is a situation in which you have to make a choice.
    - Associate the word 'dilemma' with the word 'conflict'. Remember, a dilemma is a situation in which you are faced with conflicting alternatives.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the acronym DILEMMA to remember the definition of a dilemma: D - Difficult, I - Important, L - Limiting, E - Exclusive, M - Mutually, A - Adverse

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