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
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
And that might have to be proactively driven by the healthcare system instead of the government — in order to break the catch-22.
—Simar Bajaj, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
Now, however, the situation is almost like a catch-22 in which everyone loses.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
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
And that might have to be proactively driven by the healthcare system instead of the government — in order to break the catch-22.
—Simar Bajaj, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
Now, however, the situation is almost like a catch-22 in which everyone loses.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
Noun
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About 400 staff positions across the KC-area Head Start sites are also at risk if the sites close permanently, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said earlier this month.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
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The risk of sabotaging commercial success evidently didn’t deter her.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Finch’s faith The Timberwolves’ coach has a dilemma on his hands with Rob Dillingham.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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At the same time, Powell emphasized the boom creates a policy dilemma for the Fed.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Head coach Kevin Young replaced Mark Pope without a hitch last year, and the Cougars have headliner status with the addition of AJ Dybantsa.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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Many have had the wheels or hitches removed years ago.—
Cassie Powell,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Funding predicament The CJA funding shortfall is a result of the continuing resolution that Congress approved in March, just hours before a looming shutdown, to fund the government through the end of September.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
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And as of this July, 58% of Gen Z students globally who finished college in the past year were still trying to find stable work, compared to 25% of millennials and Gen Xers who faced the same predicament.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Obsidian Entertainment has done an admirable job avoiding those pitfalls in its work, and 2019’s The Outer Worlds is a great example.—
Jason Fanelli,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
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Common pitfalls include adding too much salt, relying heavily on canned varieties, and using too much cream or butter.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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To get the Benny Blanco drink, customers could add cherry flavor and pickles.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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Blue Jays reliever Seranthony Dominguez got into a pickle of his own in the 10th inning.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Below, snag must-have savings before the sale ends on October 29.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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The Miami Hurricanes hit their first snag of the season with their upset loss to the Louisville Cardinals on Friday.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Mitchell played just 24 offensive snaps over the last four games and recorded two catches for 15 yards on four targets.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
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Through the first seven games of the season, the three-time Pro-Bowl WR has 29 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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