A moral dilemma is a situation in which an individual is faced with two or more conflicting moral requirements, none of which overrides the other. In other words, it is a situation where every available choice is wrong. Moral dilemmas can be resolvable ethical conflicts, psychologically difficult choices, or other types of difficult ethical problems. They are situations in which the decision-maker must consider two or more moral values or duties but can only honor one of them. Examples of moral dilemmas include conflicts between moral requirements such as repaying ones debts and protecting others from harm.

Moral dilemmas are important because they help individuals interrogate who they really are as individuals and make choices that they consider correct even when others deem them incorrect. They can arise in situations related to family, friends, and issues of close interest to an individual, where it becomes difficult to make choices when a person needs to pick between friends, family members, or careers and general life situations.

Moral dilemmas have been extensively debated in philosophy and moral theory, with both supporters and opponents of moral dilemmas having major burdens to bear. Opponents of dilemmas must show why appearances are deceiving and why certain moral principles override others. Understanding the nature of moral dilemmas is an important prerequisite to identifying them and finding ways to deal with them responsibly.