Synonyms of dilemma

dilemma

noun

də-ˈle-mə 

1

as in problem

a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices

faced with a dilemma of whether to risk continuing to drive in the dangerous storm or to give up searching for the lost dog and hope he survived

Synonyms & Similar Words

• problem
• quandary
• difficulty
• double bind
• pickle
• catch-22
• predicament
• impasse
• deadlock
• quagmire
• plight
• stalemate
• standoff
• bind
• fix
• jam
• pinch
• knot
• spot
• hole

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breeze
• snap
• cinch
• duck soup

2

as in predicament

a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape

with home prices in a free fall, sellers were in a terrible dilemma

Synonyms & Similar Words

• predicament
• pickle
• hole
• bind
• difficulty
• swamp
• corner
• crisis
• jam
• impasse
• quagmire
• box
• plight
• fix
• rabbit hole
• spot
• mire
• catch-22
• trouble
• quandary
• sticky wicket
• jackpot
• kettle of fish
• rattrap
• hot water
• soup
• node
• emergency
• deadlock
• crossroad
• pinch
• standstill
• strait
• stalemate
• exigency
• halt
• juncture
• clutch
• logjam
• scrape

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dilemma

Figuring out how to strategize paying down your debts while also saving for emergencies and big goals is a common dilemma for many. — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026

To help other biz dev professionals solve the dilemma, leading experts from the Forbes Business Development Council offer practical ways to keep quarterly performance on track without allowing short-term pressure to dictate the future. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

As a result, one of the oldest dilemmas facing autocrats is how to empower agents to carry out orders without also enabling them to turn against their leader. — Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Bobby Williams, a Polk County resident who came in fifth in his long-shot bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, said Donalds faces a dilemma. — Michael Van Sickler, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026