variants
or catch-22s
1
as in risks
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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Analysts have raised concerns about concentration risks in South Korea's stock market, with an overreliance on a small group of companies raising the risk of volatility and vulnerability to geopolitical shocks, including a slowdown in data-center spending.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
18 May 2026 -
For a generation of homeowners, China’s housing crisis has shown that even property investment has its risks.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Still, even after the election, Magyar has remained relentlessly on message—which is to say, vague and tight-lipped, leaving several inconvenient dilemmas unaddressed.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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Researchers then provided examples of thoughtful responses to ethical dilemmas, which the model learned from via supervised learning.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
9 May 2026
Noun
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All three of these Yakima racks use trailer hitches for mounting, rather than suction, roof racks, or your rear door.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
13 May 2026
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But her journey hasn’t been without a few hitches.—
Aaron Tolentino,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
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Journeys that used to take entire seasons were being covered in single episodes, characters survived predicaments that once meant surefire death, and previously relevant factors like supplies, infrastructure, and alliances no longer mattered.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Politics was the focus of the discussion, a topic that too often comes with land mines when two opposing views are on display.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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Apopo says more than six million land mines may still be buried in the soil of Cambodia.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s also the Chicken Sammy for $13, topped with Swiss and mozzarella cheeses as well as Buffalo-style mayo, pickles, housemade pesto and lemon caper aioli.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
11 May 2026
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Breakfast also featured a fish main (a thick cut of salmon with miso sauce), pickles, rice, and miso soup.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Picture Indiana Jones swapping his fedora for a Han dynasty helmet, dodging booby traps in dusty Chinese tombs.—
Urnesha Bhattacherjee,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
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In the days leading up to the attack, Ghazali allegedly rigged his truck with booby traps, fireworks, explosives, and large amounts of gasoline.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Alex Smalley at least gets a head start thanks to his sublime play on the back nine at Aronimink Golf Club, with six birdies over his last 10 holes for a 2-under 68 and a two-shot lead.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
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If your tree is in a lawn, poke 6-inch deep holes around the drip line and pour the fertilizer into them.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
17 May 2026
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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 19 May. 2026.
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