Dilemma
Dilemma noun - A situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices.
Usage example: faced with a dilemma whether to spend the night out in the cold or go inside and face his father
Problem
Problem noun - Something that requires thought and skill for resolution.
Usage example: the problem of world hunger
Dilemma is a synonym for problem in difficulty topic. You can use "Dilemma" instead a noun "Problem". informal substitute
Nearby Words: problematic, problematical
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
| exact | exact dilemma | exact problem |
| particular | particular dilemma | particular problem |
| similar | similar dilemma | similar problem |
| common | common dilemma | common problem |
| Other adjectives: specific, current, original, single, simple, actual, real, big, serious, huge, potential, main, interesting, new, major, frequent, final, different, biggest. | ||
Both words in one sentence
- Referenced in Zero Time Dilemma, where an entire fragment is named for this problem, including demonstrating the problem in a slightly modified form.
Source: Monty Hall Problem -
Or a dilemma can seem false and contrived when a character agonizes over killing the Big Bad but had no such problem killing random Mooks.
Source: Moral Dilemma -
Monty Hall Problem: C-Team has an entire segment named after this, including ending with a modified version of this dilemma.
Source: Visual Novel / Zero Time Dilemma
Cite this Source
Problem and Dilemma. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/dilemma/problem
Dilemma & Problem. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/dilemma/problem>.
Problem or Dilemma. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/dilemma/problem.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "dilemma" and "problem" have occurred on timeline