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Deviation vs Dilemma - What's the difference?

deviation | dilemma |

As nouns the difference between deviation and dilemma

is that deviation is diversion; different route to travel while dilemma is dilemma (a situation with two (or more) alternatives to choose from, and where all alternatives are unsatisfactory or undesirable ).

deviation

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of deviating; a wandering from the way; variation from the common way, from an established rule, etc.; departure, as from the right course or the path of duty.
  • The state or result of having deviated; a transgression; an act of sin; an error; an offense.
  • (contract law) The voluntary and unnecessary departure of a ship from, or delay in, the regular and usual course of the specific voyage insured, thus releasing the underwriters from their responsibility.
  • (Absolute Deviation) The shortest distance between the center of the target and the point where a projectile hits or bursts.
  • (statistics) For interval variables and ratio variables, a measure of difference between the observed value and the mean.
  • (metrology) The signed difference between a value and its reference value.
  • Derived terms

    * absolute deviation * average deviation * deviation ratio * immune deviation * mean deviation * quartile deviation * relative deviation * sexual deviation * signed deviation * standard deviation

    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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