catch-22's

variants or catch-22s
plural of catch-22
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

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2
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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22's
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
  • Think through potential obstacles and pitfalls together—make back-up planning part of every work plan.
    Bruce Tulgan, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
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.

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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 4 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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