B2 noun Formal

مُعْضِلَة

/muʕˈdˤila/

A difficult situation or problem where a choice has to be made between two or more undesirable alternatives. It is common in TOEFL reading passages about ethics and logic.

Examples

3 of 5
1

تقع الشخصية الرئيسية في الرواية في معضلة صعبة.

The main character in the novel falls into a difficult dilemma.

2

كيف يمكننا حل هذه المعضلة الاقتصادية؟

How can we solve this economic dilemma?

3

عندي معضلة صغيرة بخصوص موعد الاجتماع.

I have a small dilemma regarding the meeting time.

Word Family

Noun
معضلة
Verb
أعضل
Adjective
معضل
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Memory Tip

Mu'dila sounds like 'Muddle'—when things are muddled and hard to choose.

Quick Quiz

يواجه العلماء ___ في الموازنة بين التقدم العلمي والأخلاق.

Correct!

The correct answer is: معضلة

Examples

1

تقع الشخصية الرئيسية في الرواية في معضلة صعبة.

academic

The main character in the novel falls into a difficult dilemma.

2

كيف يمكننا حل هذه المعضلة الاقتصادية؟

formal

How can we solve this economic dilemma?

3

عندي معضلة صغيرة بخصوص موعد الاجتماع.

informal

I have a small dilemma regarding the meeting time.

4

تعتبر البطالة معضلة كبرى في العديد من الدول.

business

Unemployment is considered a major dilemma in many countries.

5

ناقش الطلاب معضلة السجين في فصل الفلسفة.

academic

Students discussed the prisoner's dilemma in philosophy class.

Word Family

Noun
معضلة
Verb
أعضل
Adjective
معضل

Common Collocations

معضلة أخلاقية Ethical dilemma
حل المعضلة Solving the dilemma
واجه معضلة Faced a dilemma
معضلة حقيقية True dilemma
معضلة فلسفية Philosophical dilemma

Common Phrases

في قلب المعضلة

At the heart of the dilemma

بين فكي المعضلة

Between the jaws of the dilemma

معضلة لا حل لها

An unsolvable dilemma

Often Confused With

مُعْضِلَة vs مشكلة

Mushkila is a general problem; Mu'dila is a complex dilemma with conflicting choices.

📝

Usage Notes

Used when a problem is particularly complex or involves conflicting choices, especially in formal writing.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Do not use it for simple problems like 'I lost my keys'. Use it for conceptual or ethical conflicts.

💡

Memory Tip

Mu'dila sounds like 'Muddle'—when things are muddled and hard to choose.

📖

Word Origin

From the root (ع-ض-ل) meaning difficult or muscular/stiff.

Grammar Patterns

Often takes the preposition 'بين' (between) to show the choices. Can be followed by an adjective.

Quick Quiz

يواجه العلماء ___ في الموازنة بين التقدم العلمي والأخلاق.

Correct!

The correct answer is: معضلة

Related Vocabulary

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A difficulty or problem that prevents progress or makes it h...

 تحدي

A task or situation that tests someone's abilities. It is wi...

 صراع

A serious disagreement or argument, or a prolonged struggle...

 أزمة

A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. It can ref...
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