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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 hotel is only for guests 21 and older which is a bit of a catch-22.
—
Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
For employees, this creates a catch-22.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
For employees, this creates a catch-22.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
Noun
-
Police had been contacted by Thiamphanit's friends twice the day before her body was found, but the case was allegedly considered medium-risk, per The Times.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
And as climate change is likely to cause more storms in the future, more people will be put at risk.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For policymakers, the crisis caused by the Iran war poses a dilemma.—
Fabiano Maisonnave,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
This dilemma unfolded as delegates still waited to hear from all three gubernatorial candidates before casting a vote for that respective nominee.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Production on Michael wraps without a hitch…or so everyone thinks.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
-
We’re trained, maybe, to think that this is just one hitch in Sasha’s journey, but these dead ends keep popping up.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After realizing their predicament, the couple was forced to swim to a buoy about a mile from shore.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Gonzales has been in a similar predicament for many months longer.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While their experience shows the pitfalls of fighting against an unprecedented legal effort, this is also a story about the lengths a couple will go to fight for their love.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Then there are the strategic pitfalls posed by the way immigration court works, like the fact that a person only gets one bond hearing.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some Cypress Village residents are beseeching the city to keep it that way, even as the HOA applies to let the pickle balling resume.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Much of the automobile industry is in a pickle.—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
More than two years after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Maryland — resulting in the deaths of six construction workers and upending a key route that thousands relied on daily — reconstruction has hit a snag.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Students in Pennsylvania experienced similar snags last week as more state education departments are moving to computerized assessments.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Maloney was also successful at FIU, breaking the program bowl-game record for most catches (10) and most receiving yards (178).—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Seafood Market's fishermen deliver their morning catch directly to the kitchen, no middlemen, no frozen Pacific sole flown from Vietnam.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
