State of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options.
synonym: quandary.
Roget 475:
uncertainty,
incertitude,
doubt;
doubtfulness
etc.
adj.;
dubiety,
dubitation†,
dubitancy†,
dubitousness†.
hesitation,
suspense;
perplexity,
embarrassment,
dilemma,
bewilderment;
timidity
etc.
(fear)
860;
vacillation
etc.
605;
diaporesis†,
indetermination.
vagueness
etc.
adj.;
haze,
fog;
obscurity
etc.
(darkness)
421;
ambiguity
etc.
(double meaning)
520;
contingency,
dependence,
dependency,
double contingency,
possibility upon a possibility;
open question
etc.
(question)
461;
onus probandi [Lat.];
blind bargain,
pig in a poke,
leap in the dark,
something or other;
needle in a haystack,
needle in a bottle of hay;
roving commission.
precariousness
etc.
adj.;
fallibility.
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Roget 704:
difficulty;
hardness
etc.
adj.;
impracticability
etc.
(impossibility)
471;
tough work,
hard work,
uphill work;
hard task,
Herculean task,
Augean task†;
task of Sisyphus,
Sisyphean labor,
tough job,
teaser,
rasper†,
dead lift.
dilemma,
embarrassment;
deadlock;
perplexity
etc.
(uncertainty)
475;
intricacy;
entanglement,
complexity
etc.
59;
cross fire;
awkwardness,
delicacy,
ticklish card to play,
knot,
Gordian knot,
dignus vindice nodus [Lat.],
net,
meshes,
maze;
coil
etc.
(convolution)
248;
crooked path;
involvement.
nice point,
delicate point,
subtle point,
knotty point;
vexed question,
vexata quaestio [Lat.],
poser;
puzzle
etc.
(riddle)
533;
paradox;
hard nut to crack,
nut to crack;
bone to pick,
crux,
pons asinorum [Lat.],
where the shoe pinches.
nonplus,
quandary,
strait,
pass,
pinch,
pretty pass,
stress,
brunt;
critical situation,
crisis;
trial,
rub,
emergency,
exigency,
scramble.
scrape,
hobble,
slough,
quagmire,
hot water,
hornet's nest;
sea of troubles,
peck of troubles;
pretty kettle of fish;
pickle,
stew,
imbroglio,
mess,
ado;
false position.
set fast,
stand,
standstill;
deadlock,
dead set.
fix,
horns of a dilemma,
cul de sac [Fr.];
hitch;
stumbling block
etc.
(hindrance)
706.
[difficult person]
crab;
curmudgeon.
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Roget 7:
state,
condition,
category,
estate,
lot,
ease,
trim,
mood,
pickle,
plight,
temper;
aspect
etc.
(appearance)
448,
dilemma,
pass,
predicament.
constitution,
habitude,
diathesis†;
frame,
fabric
etc.
329;
stamp,
set,
fit,
mold,
mould.
mode,
modality,
schesis†;
form
etc.
(shape)
240.
tone,
tenor,
turn;
trim,
guise,
fashion,
light,
complexion,
style,
character.
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Roget 609:
choice,
option;
discretion
etc.
(volition)
600;
preoption†;
alternative;
dilemma,
embarras de choix [Fr.];
adoption,
cooptation†;
novation†;
decision
etc.
(judgment)
480.
election;
political election
(politics)
737.1.
selection,
excerption,
gleaning,
eclecticism;
excerpta†,
gleanings,
cuttings,
scissors and paste;
pick
etc.
(best)
650.
preference,
prelation†,
opinion poll,
survey;
predilection
etc.
(desire)
865.
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Roget 476:
reasoning ratiocination rationalism;
dialectics,
induction,
generalization.
discussion,
comment;
ventilation;
inquiry
etc.
461.
argumentation,
controversy,
debate;
polemics,
wrangling;
contention
etc.
720;
logomachy†;
disputation,
disceptation†;
paper war.
art of reasoning,
logic.
process of reasoning,
train of reasoning,
chain of reasoning;
deduction,
induction,
abduction;
synthesis,
analysis.
argument;
case,
plaidoyer†,
opening;
lemma,
proposition,
terms,
premises,
postulate,
data,
starting point,
principle;
inference
etc.
(judgment)
480.
prosyllogism†,
syllogism;
enthymeme†,
sorites†,
dilemma,
perilepsis†,
a priori reasoning,
reductio ad absurdum,
horns of a dilemma,
argumentum ad hominem [Lat.],
comprehensive argument;
empirema†,
epagoge†.
[person who reasons]
reasoner,
logician,
dialectician;
disputant;
controversialist,
controvertist†;
wrangler,
arguer,
debater polemic,
casuist,
rationalist;
scientist;
eristic†.
logical sequence;
good case;
correct just reasoning,
sound reasoning,
valid reasoning,
cogent reasoning,
logical reasoning,
forcible reasoning,
persuasive reasoning,
persuasory reasoning†,
consectary reasoning†,
conclusive
etc.
478;
subtle reasoning;
force of argument,
strong point,
strong argument,
persuasive argument.
arguments,
reasons,
pros and cons.
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Dutch: besluiteloosheid, onzekerheid, tweestrijd, dilemma
Polish: szarpanina, rozterka, szamotanina