catch-22

noun

ˈkach-ˌtwen-tē-ˈtü How to pronounce catch-22 (audio)
Definition of catch-22next
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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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 Blocking a Cure There is no cure for endometriosis. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2026 There’s a catch-22 for April stargazers. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026 The court’s decision left medical professionals in a Catch-22. — Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026 In response, Epstein suggests Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities, Theodore Dreiser’s The Financier, and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. — Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
  1. risk
  2. dilemma
  3. hitch
  4. predicament
  5. pitfall
  6. pickle
  7. snag
  8. catch
Noun
  • The wide availability of low-cost, powerful open models is one reason Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that open models in particular pose a risk of widespread and potentially devastating cyber attacks.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That could represent either a benefit or a risk for shareholders, as decision-making would become faster but have fewer checks.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • That dilemma will not go away as long as Ukraine’s own infrastructure is exposed to attack.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
  • For Palestinian citizens of Israel, however, the country’s national ballots pose more of a dilemma.
    — Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of dilemma
Noun
  • Some games entirely errored out, some had hitches, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips were targeting relatively low-end gaming to begin with.
    — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Both body styles come with Helmsman badging and a tow hitch for easily transporting small boats or kayaks.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of hitch
Noun
  • News of the rescue has gotten hundreds of reactions on social media, with many noting the dog’s predicament was heartbreaking.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Through one dangerous predicament after another, his stunt work reveals a performer who seems entirely comfortable in his own skin.
    — Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of predicament
Noun
  • That doesn’t mean, however, that the show’s creator and stars have been able to avoid the same pitfalls as their characters.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • For all of its subtext about the pitfalls of algorithms, the film doesn’t wallow in nostalgia.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of pitfall
Noun
  • Most ingredients, including pickles and dressings, are made in-house.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Both bentos come with a sweet and salty cabbage salad, a slab of rice, crunchy green pickles, and a slice of orange.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pickle
Noun
  • Anything can be arranged here, from private wine tasting tours and hot-air balloon rides to hard-to-snag dinner reservations.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The 23-year-old Texas product, whom the Packers took in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, caught six passes from quarterback Jordan Love for a career-high 123 yards, including a 50-yard snag to help Green Bay humble the Bears.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of snag
Noun
  • That was a little more than two years ago, and Kelce now is the Chiefs’ leader in pass receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Even with a couple of uncharacteristic drops in the second half, Jones finished with a game-high 69 receiving yards on five catches.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of catch

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Cite this Entry

“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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