What are the subtle differences in meanings between the following words?
- Paradox
- Conundrum
- Dilemma
- Plight
What are the subtle differences in meanings between the following words?
Some of these words have multiple meanings, but I am pointing the specific meaning which is in political/social or economic context as mentioned by you. (This answer took me so much time to write, hope it helps)
Paradox (noun) means a situation or statement that seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics.
For example:
It's a paradox that drinking too much water makes you feel thirsty.
It's a paradox that our government talks about secularism and still favours a particular religion.
Conundrum (noun) is a problem or puzzle which is difficult or impossible to solve.
For example:
We tried to empower women in the region, but they opposed us saying 'they don't want to go against their husbands.' What a conundrum!
Dilemma (noun) is a difficult situation in which you have to choose between two or more almost similarly difficult alternatives.
For example:
I was trapped between a dry well and a high end cliff, there's no place to go instead of the two. God, what a dilemma!
Our government is facing a dilemma of either being secularist or nationalist.
Plight (noun) is an unpleasant condition, especially a serious, sad, or difficult one.
For example:
My problems don't carry any significance with the plight of the storm victims.
Hope, it helped :) Oof, I am tired now.
Paradox
Conundrum
Dilemma
Plight