variants
or catch-22s
1
as in land mines
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 dilemmas
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 problems
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22's
Noun
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But the body concerns and identity dilemmas associated with middle age are different from those that plague adolescence and young adulthood.—
Rebecca Lester,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2025 -
In some organizations, AI ethics advisory boards report directly to the audit or risk committee, tackling dilemmas like data misuse or algorithmic bias head-on.—
Rohan Sharma,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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By recognizing and addressing these common pitfalls, job seekers can approach their next interview with greater confidence and a clearer strategy for success.—
Michael Guan,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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Think through potential obstacles and pitfalls together—make back-up planning part of every work plan.—
Bruce Tulgan,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Catch-22's.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22%27s. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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