dilemma
dilemma — noun
1. A situation where you must choose between two possible courses of action, and th
A situation where you must choose between two possible courses of action, and the decision is not easy because each option brings both advantages and disadvantages.
After receiving offers from two universities, Ari faced a dilemma about which one to attend.
face a dilemma about + [noun]
The committee faced a dilemma: new computers or staff training.
dilemma presented with colon between two options
Lucía faced a dilemma: both friends wanted her as their wedding planner the same day.
David faced a dilemma: a high-paying job he hated or art with uncertain income.
- quandary
Focuses more on the mental state of uncertainty than on the choice itself; slightly more formal.
- predicament
Emphasizes that the situation is unpleasant or embarrassing; does not always involve a choice.
- catch-22
A specific type of dilemma where each option is blocked by a contradictory rule, making all solutions impossible.
- win-win situation
A scenario where all possible choices lead to positive outcomes — the opposite of a dilemma.
- no-brainer
An extremely easy decision where one option is clearly best; informal.
文法句型
dilemma of + [gerund/noun]
dilemma about/over + [noun]
face a dilemma
be (caught) in a dilemma
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the patterns 'the dilemma of whether to + verb' and 'face a dilemma about/over + noun'. The two alternatives are often introduced with 'either...or...' or expressed as a choice between two noun phrases connected by 'or'. For the distinction between dilemma and a mere difficult problem, see common_mistakes below.
常見錯誤
2. A situation where every available option is unpleasant or harmful, and you are f
A situation where every available option is unpleasant or harmful, and you are forced to pick one — so whatever you decide, you must accept some degree of loss or discomfort.
Hamza faced a moral dilemma: report his friend's cheating or stay quiet and feel dishonest.
moral dilemma + two bad choices presented with colon
The hospital's dilemma was choosing which patients to treat when beds ran out.
dilemma where both options cause harm
Nia's dilemma: lend Takeshi money or refuse and damage their friendship.
The dilemma for the shop owner was either raising prices or running at a loss.
- catch-22
A dilemma made impossible by contradictory rules; more specific and literary.
- lesser of two evils
A phrase rather than a single word; describes choosing the less harmful option in a dilemma where both are bad.
- double bind
A psychological dilemma where conflicting demands make any response wrong; used in psychology and communication theory.
- choice between equals
A situation where both options are equally good, making the decision merely a matter of preference.
文法句型
moral/ethical dilemma
dilemma + of having to choose between
be on the horns of a dilemma
用法筆記
This sense carries the strongest implication that all alternatives are equally unfavorable. Common modifier adjectives are 'moral', 'ethical', 'terrible', and 'real'. Distinguish from Sense 1 (HARD CHOICE): in Sense 2, the key is that NOT choosing is also bad — you are forced to accept harm regardless of your decision.