dilemma vs distress

dilemma

noun
  • A difficult circumstance or problem. 

  • A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true". 

  • A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable. 

  • Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives. 

distress

noun
  • An aversive state of stress to which a person cannot fully adapt. 

  • A cause of such discomfort. 

  • The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction. 

  • Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature. 

  • Serious danger. 

  • A seizing of property without legal process to force payment of a debt. 

verb
  • To treat a new object to give it an appearance of age. 

  • To retain someone’s property against the payment of a debt; to distrain. 

  • To cause strain or anxiety to someone. 

How often have the words dilemma and distress occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )