1
as in risk
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
the drug lowers cholesterol, but the catch-22 is that it mainly lowers good cholesterol
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2
as in dilemma
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
the catch-22 faced by every first-time loan applicant: how to get a loan without a credit history
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3
as in problem
a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices
an environmental catch-22: building wind farms results in scenic eyesores; not building wind farms results in greater pollution from fossil fuels
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catch-22
The hotel is only for guests 21 and older which is a bit of a catch-22.
—
Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
For employees, this creates a catch-22.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Trump is facing a catch-22 in the face of growing fissures at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and mounting departures of scientists and experts over vaccine policy.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
And yet, these counterattacks may be ensnaring scientists in a catch-22.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
Noun
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The robots handle precise positioning, reduce the risk of door damage, and allow vehicles to be parked closer together.—
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On one hand, artificial intelligence is rapidly improving cybersecurity defense technologies, but AI is also equipping cybercriminals with sophisticated tools and creating new risks.—
Noun
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Both dilemmas are true for too many of the few cities in Imperial County.—
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That’s because Katerjian works to help those made homeless by the fires and those whose housing dilemma predate the fires while also absorbing the loss of her own Altadena home to the fire.—
Noun
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Over the next several months, the Gutierrezes watched as new roofs were installed without a hitch on almost all their neighbors’ homes, even some homes insured by State Farm.—
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These are the senses that allow Wembanyama to roll his ankles on crossovers without a hitch.—
Noun
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This year, however, my predicament has grown more urgent.—
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Owner’s Jail, to put it nicely, is the predicament of NFL fans whose team is owned by someone whose stewardship does not inspire great optimism.—
Noun
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Topics include how to raise money, building stronger donor relationships and avoiding common pitfalls.—
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Avoid these pitfalls by incorporating this clever electric spin scrubber into your routine.—
Noun
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Eating pickles helps with hydration and feeling full due to their high water content.—
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The most famous is Pickle Rick, a green pickle version of grandpa Rick.—
Noun
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But barring an unexpected snag in negotiations, the Giants are primed to land a coach who made a dozen postseason appearances and won 180 regular-season games in Baltimore.—
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But efforts to champion tenant protections hit a major snag Tuesday when a controversial rent control proposal died in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.—
Noun
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He was named to his 11th Pro Bowl after recording 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns.—
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Shipley's rookie season turned out to be his most productive, making 52 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals.—
Cite this Entry
“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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