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Crisis vs Dilemma - What's the difference?

crisis | dilemma |

In lang=en terms the difference between crisis and dilemma

is that crisis is a point in a drama at which a conflict reaches a peak before being resolved while dilemma is a type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".

As nouns the difference between crisis and dilemma

is that crisis is a crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point while dilemma is a circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.

crisis

English

Noun

(crises)
  • A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point.
  • An unstable situation, in political, social, economic or military affairs, especially one involving an impending abrupt change.
  • A sudden change in the course of a disease, usually at which the patient is expected to recover or die.
  • (psychology) A traumatic or stressful change in a person's life.
  • (drama) A point in a drama at which a conflict reaches a peak before being resolved.
  • Derived terms

    {{der3, crisis management , currency crisis , financial crisis , economic crisis , international crisis , identity crisis , existential crisis , personal crisis , psychological crisis , midlife crisis , quarter-life crisis}}

    dilemma

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • A strong dilemma in a desperate case! / To act with infamy, or quit the place.
  • A difficult circumstance or problem.
  • (logic) A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".
  • (rhetoric) Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.
  • Usage notes

    * The sense of a difficult circumstance or problem is considered non-standard[by whom?]. * Occasionally spelled/misspelled as dilemna'', perhaps originally via false analogy with words such as ''condemn'', ''solemn'', and ''hymn . This spelling has been reportedly taught in many regions of Great Britain and the United States as well as around the world; and can be found in the works of many well-known authors (e.g. Watts, Defroe & Goldsmith). World Wide Words: Dilemma

    Synonyms

    * (circumstance in which a choice must be made between two alternatives) * (any difficult circumstance) bind, fix, pickle, problem, quandary * (logic) * (rhetoric) * See also

    Derived terms

    * on the horns of a dilemma

    See also

    * * between a rock and a hard place * between the devil and the deep blue sea * between Scylla and Charybdis * Buridan's ass

    References

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    Anagrams

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