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.

A dilemma involves a choice between two options, both of which have negative aspects.
Quandary suggests a state of perplexity or confusion about what to do, without the implication of negative consequences for each choice.
To remember: a dilemma is like being between a rock and a hard place, while a quandary is more about being unsure which direction to take.
Dilemma often involves moral or ethical decisions, whereas a quandary can apply to any kind of decision-making.
Think of dilemma having a stronger connotation of a complex decision-making situation, whereas a quandary is more about feeling puzzled or indecisive.