Ethical Dilemmas Terminology

noun the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

adjective having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

• The patient's ambivalence towards starting a new medication was evident during the consultation.
• I can't decide if I want to go to the party or stay home, I'm feeling ambivalent about it.
• I'm so ambivalent about this job offer, I just don't know if it's the right fit for me.
• Her ambivalence towards commitment was like a seesaw, constantly shifting back and forth.

noun an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities

verb to select as an act of making a decision

adjective of very good quality; excellent

• The decision to pursue higher education is a significant choice that requires careful consideration.
• Hey, what's your choice for dinner tonight? I'm thinking of ordering pizza.
• I made the choice to skip class and hang out with my friends instead.
• Life is a series of choices, each one leading us down a different path.

adjective not suitable or advisable in a particular situation; inappropriate or unwise

• It is considered inexpedient to implement such drastic measures without proper research and analysis.
• It's probably not a good idea to go ahead with that plan, it seems pretty inexpedient.
• That just seems like a really dumb move, totally inexpedient.
• Trying to fix a leaky boat with a bucket is inexpedient in the long run.

adjective showing a lack of judgment or discretion; unwise

• His injudicious decision led to severe consequences for the company.
• She made an injudicious choice by investing all her savings in that risky scheme.
• Dude, that was totally injudicious of you to skip class without telling anyone.
• The injudicious use of power can lead to the downfall of even the mightiest rulers.

adjective showing no originality; blindly imitative

• The employee showed a slavish dedication to his work, always arriving early and staying late.
• She has a slavish devotion to that TV show, never missing an episode.
• He's always been slavish about following the latest fashion trends.
• The dictator demanded slavish obedience from his subjects, controlling every aspect of their lives.

adjective not flattering or attractive; inappropriate or unsuitable for a particular role or position

• Her behavior at the gala was deemed unbecoming of a professional in her position.
• His outfit for the interview was unbecoming and did not make a good impression.
• The way she spoke to her boss was totally unbecoming, she needs to chill out.
• The graffiti on the historic building was unbecoming of the city's reputation for art and culture.

adjective not proper or appropriate; inappropriate or unsuitable

• His unseemly behavior at the dinner party was a topic of discussion among the guests.
• It's unseemly to talk loudly on your phone in a quiet restaurant.
• She was acting all unseemly at the club last night.
• The unseemly shadows of doubt clouded her mind as she made the decision.

adjective describing something that is too terrible or extreme to be expressed in words

• The details of the crime were so unspeakable that the jury struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the situation.
• I can't even begin to describe the unspeakable mess that was left in the kitchen after the party.
• That movie was so unspeakable, I couldn't even make it through the first 10 minutes.
• The beauty of the sunset was so unspeakable that it left everyone in awe.