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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of catch-22
The catch-22 for Republicans is that the president’s endorsement will be highly advantageous in March.
—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
This is to some extent a consequence of how quickly the government had to act in the face of that emergency, a catch-22 between ensuring that the money would be going to actually help people who needed it and having to get billions out the door at lightning-speed.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
If the original idea behind streaming music was empowering artists and creating a digital hub of all music, this current era offers a newfangled catch-22.
—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
The hotel is only for guests 21 and older which is a bit of a catch-22.
—
Elliott Harrell,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
This is to some extent a consequence of how quickly the government had to act in the face of that emergency, a catch-22 between ensuring that the money would be going to actually help people who needed it and having to get billions out the door at lightning-speed.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
If the original idea behind streaming music was empowering artists and creating a digital hub of all music, this current era offers a newfangled catch-22.
—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
The hotel is only for guests 21 and older which is a bit of a catch-22.
—
Elliott Harrell,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
Noun
-
In addition to the fear of deportation, the ruling puts thousands of immigrants at risk of losing their work authorization and their jobs, according to a Haitian-American journalist.
-
It is known to cause neurological problems, convulsions and comas, with children particularly at risk.
Noun
-
Perhaps every story in which the characters are fundamentally unable to change their lives is subject to this same dilemma.
-
Casa Amor, as a concept, is traditionally structured like a prisoner’s dilemma, with neither the main villa nor Casa Islanders aware of what their counterparts are doing while they’re separated.
Noun
-
But once again, the party went without a hitch.
-
In Houston, some drivers were up to their trailer hitches in lapping waters, while photos from Waco, Texas, showed roadways washed away by the storms.
Noun
-
The upshot of Yale’s report, which is by far the most self-critical of the three, is that administrators bear much of the responsibility for higher education’s current predicament.
-
What to read next Once the initial excitement of weightlessness has worn off, the kids realize the true extent of their predicament.
Noun
-
Forward-thinking manufacturers build native compliance protocols as a workflow, not as an afterthought—a pitfall that many struggle with.
-
But Sam and Cecily's immersion into the tech industry comes with its pitfalls.
Noun
-
Your leaf feeding, and eventually fruit feeding, pests are almost certain to be pickle or melon worms.
-
Both point out that pickle juice is high in sodium; infrequently or in small doses, that’s fine, but if consumed excessively, pickle juice can pretty quickly put you beyond the daily amount of sodium health experts recommend that people consume.
Noun
-
This worked fine most of the time, but might occasionally hit a snag.
-
An ugly snag, looking like last year’s Christmas tree, has reared itself out of the water about midstream.
Noun
-
Shoots them off the balance, catch-and-shoot, spot ups — just in various ways.
-
If the Heartbreakers debuted today, would the band be considered Americana — a catch-all phrase for songs that embrace influences from roots-rock, blues, soul, folk and country music?
Cite this Entry
“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
