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 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
In a catch-22, until the company is able to reduce its coal dependency, analysts expect its performance in the short- to medium-term to continue being dictated by coal-price movement.
—Phisanu Phromchanya, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
In a catch-22, until the company is able to reduce its coal dependency, analysts expect its performance in the short- to medium-term to continue being dictated by coal-price movement.
—Phisanu Phromchanya, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
Noun
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Some powders contain aspartame or acesulfame potassium (also known as acesulfame K), which, one 2022 study suggested, may be linked to a greater cancer risk (although other studies have not found this).—
MISAKI KAWATSU,
Vogue,
10 June 2025
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Furthermore, with Circle's valuation soaring from a $7 billion IPO target to over $27 billion today, any decline in trading activity or regulatory challenges could present a more substantial downside risk.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
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Lee’s version stars frequent collaborator Denzel Washington as a music mogul who becomes the target of a ransom demand that forces him into a moral dilemma, between life and death.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2025
-
The Union freed Black folk, but the dilemma of race persisted.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Suspect SSDs and Fusion Failures Crank out a few million laptops, and you're bound to occasionally have some hitches.—
Brian Westover,
PC Magazine,
10 June 2025
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Avoid these hosting mistakes to make sure your party goes off without a hitch.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
Noun
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In fact, the predicament of Enphase Energy illustrates the risks of heavily investing in a single stock.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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Two boaters were rescued from a treacherous predicament on a raging river in Maryland, officials said.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Miami Herald,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Empowering Authentic Voices One of the most common pitfalls in advocacy programs is over-scripting employees.—
Bradley Keenan,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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Tua Tagovailoa missing six games, the Miami Dolphins faced pitfalls from opposing defenses adjusting to the Dolphins offense of the previous two seasons.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Bake a tray of chicken tenders (store-bought or homemade), set out flour tortillas, and offer a few sauces, pickles, and shredded lettuce.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 June 2025
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Its menu includes the 8oz Trump Cheeseburger and the 16oz Trump Tower, both with fries, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and Trump Sauce.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
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But the snag is that group is getting smaller and smaller.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
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Following the completion, an acrobatic snag near the left sideline, McCarthy raced down the field and chest-bumped the 6-foot-5, 252-pound Muse.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Simply put, there’s no catch to this initiative - NEVEN just asks those who are accepted into the program to share their new glasses on social media to help spread the word.—
Quentin Thane Singer,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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In the parking lot, two young boys passed the time playing catch, gloves in hand.—
Anthony De Leon,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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