World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesDilemma
/dɪˈlɛm.ə/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable.
"Faced with the moral dilemma of whether to betray his family or his duty, Arjuna hesitated on the battlefield." - 2
A problem offering two possibilities, neither of which is acceptably advantageous.
"The company found itself in a classic dilemma: cut jobs or risk bankruptcy."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Greek word lemma, meaning 'premise' or 'assumption', combined with the prefix di- meaning 'twice' or 'double'. It entered the English language in the 16th century via Latin, originally referring to a logical argument involving two equally unfavorable alternatives.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Dilemma" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
dilemme
Transliteration: di.lɛm
"Il se trouve face à un terrible dilemme."
Dilemma
Transliteration: diˈlɛma
"Er stand vor einem schwierigen Dilemma."
dilemma
Transliteration: diˈlɛmma
"Si trovò di fronte a un amaro dilemma."
dilema
Transliteration: diˈlema
"Se enfrentaba a un profundo dilema moral."
dilema
Transliteration: diˈlẽmɐ
"Ele estava perante um dilema difícil."
दु้วिधा
Transliteration: duvidha
Script: दुविधा
"युद्ध के मैदान में अर्जुन एक बड़ी दुविधा में था।"
进退两难
Transliteration: jìn tuì liǎng nán
"他陷入了进退两难的境地。"
딜레마
Transliteration: dillema
"그는 심각한 딜레마에 빠졌습니다."
ジレンマ
Transliteration: jirenma
"彼は大きなジレンマに直面した。"
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