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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During the dictatorships after World War II, the natural barrier of the Accursed Mountains was fortified, set about with land mines, and patrolled, effectively isolating the stronghold of Albania from the rest of the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025 -
If Hamas fails to disarm, that will give Netanyahu an excuse to restart the war and avoid all the political land mines that the next phases present him.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Those on the conference call would likely face very human dilemmas, and that might lead them to deviate from the rules, added Erin Dumbacher, an expert in nuclear policy at the Council on Foreign Relations.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
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For the creation of wonderful characters and a story that feels spontaneous yet precise in its depiction of power, its moral dilemmas, and the absurd contradictions with the human condition.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Prior to her latest health scare, Bardot was treated for respiratory problems in 2023 after struggling to breathe due to the heat.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
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Side effects may include stomach issues, headaches, and rare kidney problems from contamination.—
Sarah Anzlovar,
Verywell Health,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Twelve of the 20 indicators for the health risks and impacts of climate change in the report set concerning new records—showing that the health impacts caused by our changing climate have reached unprecedented levels that cannot be ignored.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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No matter what happens at their meeting, China’s ambitions will still pose the same long-term risks to American interests, American allies, and American power.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Duffers add that one of the key inspirations for this season is Home Alone—specifically the booby traps.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
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For a novice member of the field, the coolest details of the event doubled as booby traps.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Obsidian Entertainment has done an admirable job avoiding those pitfalls in its work, and 2019’s The Outer Worlds is a great example.—
Jason Fanelli,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
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Common pitfalls include adding too much salt, relying heavily on canned varieties, and using too much cream or butter.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Morrell, a former BP exec who was appointed by former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, departed after a series of snags that ultimately doomed Chapek’s tenure as CEO.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
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However, there remain several potential snags.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the years since that 2022 season, Dulcich has eight catches for 53 yards, having split time with both the Broncos and New York Giants.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
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Through seven games, Taylor leads the league in rushing with 697 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, along with 185 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown on 23 catches — an element of his game that has long been lacking.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2025.
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