Dilemma means a choice between two unfavorable or mutually exclusive alternatives. It doesn’t mean a difficult situation, and it’s not a synonym of predicament, plight, or quandary. The prefix di- is Greek for two, and that’s central to the word’s definition. Dilemma is useful for describing difficult one-or-the-other choices. And because there are few alternatives for this, we shouldn’t allow dilemma‘s definition to be eroded.
Examples
For example, these writers misuse dilemma to mean a difficult situation:
After the recession forced credit card companies to purge the riskiest loans, the industry is facing a new dilemma: customers who are too good. [The Dallas Morning News]
This week I address a different parenting dilemma: how not to lose patience with your kids. [Huffington Post]
Jonathan Niese won his fifth straight decision Friday night and the Mets finally solved the dilemma that’s been the Nationals, 5-3. [WSJ]
And these writers use dilemma well:
There’s the dilemma … Religious organizations face a choice between altering their core beliefs or forfeiting privileges enjoyed by others. [NYT Opinionator]
Safety vs. independence, a dilemma in caring for the elderly [headline, The Philadelphia Inquirer]
China now faces a dilemma of whether to loosen the restrictions on land supply and forego food security or live with the housing bubble but maintain food security. Both are unappealing options. [Asia One]
