dilemma

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A difficult situation in which you must choose between two options that both seem bad.

   She faced the dilemma of caring for her parents or keeping her job.

2. 2
   noun

   Any difficult problem or tricky situation.

   The team's main dilemma was how to finish the project on time.

PIE word *dwóh₁ First attested 1523, from Late Latin dilemma, from Ancient Greek δίλημμα (dílēmma, “ambiguous proposition”), from δι- (di-, “having two of”) + λῆμμα (lêmma, “premise, proposition”).

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