double bind

noun

: a psychological predicament in which a person receives from a single source conflicting messages that allow no appropriate response to be made
broadly : dilemma sense 1

Examples of double bind in a Sentence

the double bind faced by every politician: responding to scurrilous charges only gives them unwarranted publicity; not responding to such charges is often interpreted as an admission of guilt
Recent Examples on the Web That’s a double bind in a region where households are both less financially able to weather severe climate events but — in many cases — more likely to experience them. Jasmine Cui, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2024 And then: • A Jewish magazine’s double bind • Can Kamala Harris win? Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024 For the pop stars of ten or twenty years ago, girlhood and femininity presented a double bind. Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024 These emotional stereotypes present a double bind for parents hoping to help their children develop emotional intelligence and autonomy. Pragya Agarwal, Scientific American, 24 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for double bind 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double bind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of double bind was in 1956

Dictionary Entries Near double bind

Cite this Entry

“Double bind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20bind. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

double bind

noun
dou·​ble bind ˈdəb-əl-ˈbīnd How to pronounce double bind (audio)
: a psychological predicament in which a person receives from a single source conflicting messages that allow no appropriate response to be made
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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