Dilemma-Quandary | Commonly Confused Words

Dilemma

/dəˈlemə/

A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones

Bohr woke to his dilemma."But I can see Charlie's dilemma.I prefer the one dilemma to the other.

/ˈkwɒndəri/

A state of uncertainty or perplexity, where it is hard to decide what to do

Her dilemma put her in quite the quandary.Investors faced a quandary over risky new markets.In his quandary, he sought advice from his mentor.

Both "dilemma" and "quandary" refer to difficult situations, but a dilemma specifically involves a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives.
A dilemma often implies a decision must be made, while a quandary may not necessitate immediate action.
Use dilemma when faced with two clear options, often seen as a lose-lose situation.
Think of quandary when the problem is more about uncertainty and lacks clear direction.
Remember, a dilemma requires a clear decision between options, unlike a quandary that is more about being puzzled or uncertain.