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
But there is a catch-22: If Musk continues his close ties to Trump, the company could alienate potential customers, both at home and overseas, who dislike Trump’s policies.
—
Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
The future Astronomical observatories on the far side of the Moon face a bit of a catch-22.
—ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2025
Really, this is the catch-22 at the heart of the modern celebrity CEO and social media.
—Callum Booth, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
But there’s radio silence on how working ATCs are supposed to solve the catch-22 of freeing up time to train with no increase in staffing levels.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
The future Astronomical observatories on the far side of the Moon face a bit of a catch-22.
—ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2025
Really, this is the catch-22 at the heart of the modern celebrity CEO and social media.
—Callum Booth, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
But there’s radio silence on how working ATCs are supposed to solve the catch-22 of freeing up time to train with no increase in staffing levels.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
Noun
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But the number ticking up will add to the Fed's concerns about the inflationary risks of a cut.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
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But in April, according to NPR, the U.S. government eliminated all humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and Yemen, where, the State Department said at the time, providing food risks benefiting terrorists.—
Hana Kiros,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
Noun
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There are many reasons professional golfers have found themselves in need of a win, but few have encountered the dilemma Max Homa currently faces.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
The time to plant fall vegetable crops is just around the corner, which often poses a dilemma for gardeners.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
Noun
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This is the latest hitch on the tour for an artist known for pulling off tours without even the suggestion of a problem.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
-
Thanks to that, the surprise went off without a hitch.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
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After announcing their predicament on social media on June 13, fans rallied support.—
Bahar Anooshahr,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
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Luckily, Wayfair solved this predicament with its new apartment storefront, packed with storage solutions for living in a small space.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
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The biggest pitfall is treating charging as an isolated project.—
Karl Moore,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
-
In addition to the many pitfalls of online dating, Gen Z is also having to navigate a dating landscape marked by steep political polarization between men and women.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Boca Raton resident Pam Duhamel, who is originally from London, purchases a can of Heinz baked beans, marmite (a yeast extract used as a flavoring), a bottle of Branston squeezable pickle, and a container of Coleman’s mustard.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
19 July 2025
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Sweet pickles: Varieties like bread-and-butter pickles have sugar and vinegar in the brine, which help to preserve them.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
18 July 2025
Noun
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While Sands needed just 19 pitches to cruise through the first two innings, Burrows had two Twins on base in the first inning, then hit a serious snag in the second.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
12 July 2025
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Gatling then lofted the ball a bit in front of Hines, who made a finger-tip snag as his momentum carried him out of the field of play.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 July 2025
Noun
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In 2023, McCaffrey led all running backs in red zone receptions (12), catches that resulted in first downs (7), and touchdown catches (5).—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
-
The catch: The effective date of the rule was January 29, 2020, and the expiration January 29, 2025.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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