Dilemmatic

Characterized by or involving a dilemma; presenting or creating a difficult situation where a choice must be made between two or more undesirable alternatives. This often leads to internal conflict and difficult decisions, as there is no readily apparent 'right' answer. dilemmatic situations often involve conflicting values, obligations, or goals, placing significant pressure on the decision-maker. The resolution, if any, often requires a careful consideration of the potential consequences of each available path and an acceptance of some degree of unavoidable loss or negative outcome. The core element remains a choice between equally unattractive outcomes. The impact can be wide ranging.

Dilemmatic meaning with examples

• The committee faced a dilemmatic choice: invest heavily in renewable energy, risking immediate economic strain, or maintain reliance on fossil fuels, jeopardizing long-term environmental sustainability. Both options presented unacceptable repercussions. Their debate centered around prioritizing immediate needs versus long-term concerns, creating a deeply unsettling choice.
• She found herself in a dilemmatic position, torn between her loyalty to her friend, who had committed a crime, and her obligation to report it. Protecting her friend would be considered a failure to fulfill civic duty and the truth. Conversely, turning her friend in would betray their bond and potentially cause irreparable harm.
• The hostage negotiator was in a dilemmatic predicament, with a terrorist's threat against the hostages in one hand and a directive to minimize casualties on the other. The stakes were high, with every decision carrying the risk of unintended consequences and with pressure from law enforcement building as each second passed.
• The ethical review board struggled with a dilemmatic challenge: approve a potentially life-saving drug with unproven long-term effects, or deny it, condemning patients to suffer from a disease with no effective treatment? This question prompted weeks of intense deliberation concerning the safety of patients.
• The company's marketing team grappled with a dilemmatic campaign. They needed to appeal to younger customers who had ethical concerns about their industry. Targeting this demographic had risks. Any misstep could trigger negative backlash, possibly damaging the brand's reputation or alienating the core consumer base.