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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Experts like Hofflinger question whether local building standards are sufficient or thoroughly enforced enough to prevent fire risks.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026 -
Studies have linked prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation from radioactive fallout to elevated risks of disease, most notably leukemia and thyroid cancer, particularly among children.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But that mood turns out to be a surprisingly strong fit for the performer at the center of director Pete Ohs’ story of personal dilemmas and natural disasters.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
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Since taking office in mid-2022, Marcos has grappled with multiple complex problems and political dilemmas.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But her journey hasn’t been without a few hitches.—
Aaron Tolentino,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The draft horse shows this week during the stock show’s 120th anniversary will include 15 six-horse hitches, or six horses pulling a wagon.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
-
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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Apopo says more than six million land mines may still be buried in the soil of Cambodia.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
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OpenAI’s paper conspicuously avoids specifying a corporate tax rate, a diplomatic omission that suggests the company knows where the political land mines are buried.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Its chicken salad scoop options include the Olivia’s Old South (sweet pickles and egg), Jalapeño Holly (with jalapeños), Nutty Nanna (with pecans and cashews), Barbie Q and more.—
Jenna Thompson
April 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
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To begin, there are moreish pickles, warm soda bread, and thin slices of sweet Irish Coolea cheese.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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The movie’s biggest laughs come from Kevin’s hijinks, which involve setting up complex booby traps to fend off a pair of burglars targeting his family’s home.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Buckeyes spent 15 spring practices trying to fill holes and develop young talent to fill the void created by NFL attrition.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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So, nine holes into his pro-am practice round on Thursday, hours before the real competition started, Retief Goosen changed his grip.—
Stan Awtrey,
AJC.com,
27 Apr. 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 3 May. 2026.
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