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
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of catch-22
This lopsided ecosystem of ultra-rich tech moguls battling each other has enriched Nvidia while forcing application developers into a catch-22 of either using a low-cost and low-performance model bound to disappoint users, or face paying exorbitant inference costs and risk going bankrupt.
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Kai-Fu Lee, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
Select the right seat People who deal with migraines tend to be ultra-sensitive to motion sickness, which is a catch-22 because motion sickness can trigger an attack.
—Cheyenne Buckingham, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024
Pepe and Lonergan may in fact be caught in a catch-22.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024
To file, debtors owe an up-front fee that can exceed $1,000—a bizarre catch-22 for someone who can’t afford to pay their bills.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for catch-22 
Kai-Fu Lee, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
Select the right seat People who deal with migraines tend to be ultra-sensitive to motion sickness, which is a catch-22 because motion sickness can trigger an attack.
—Cheyenne Buckingham, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024
Pepe and Lonergan may in fact be caught in a catch-22.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024
To file, debtors owe an up-front fee that can exceed $1,000—a bizarre catch-22 for someone who can’t afford to pay their bills.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for catch-22
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch-22
Noun
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But research shows that the conditions of people's lives and their environments heavily influence why some populations are at higher risk than others.Amy Maxmen | KFF Health News, ABC News, 18 Jan. 2025
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Assess your risk The importance of all this advice depends on a person’s health and their exposure to poor quality air.Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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That dilemma will challenge Rubio, who has frequently criticized the Biden administration as too accommodating to Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, and too lenient in its policies toward Cuba.Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
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Consider this dilemma: someone has an old home in a high-price area and is considering adding a bathroom to the home.Cicely Jones, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The flag of the Islamic State group was on the truck's trailer hitch, the FBI said.ERIC TUCKER, JIM MUSTIAN, TIME, 2 Jan. 2025
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The flag of the Islamic State group was on the truck’s trailer hitch, the FBI said.Eric Tucker, Jim Mustian, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The confusion over Everton’s managerial situation has been unhelpful given the team’s predicament.Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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The widespread indifference to the Uyghurs’ predicament exposes double standards, not only among today’s prevailing political ideologies, but also within the international politics of human rights.Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Furthermore, consider engaging experts to supplement internal capabilities, as specialists can help bring best practices and assist organizations with avoiding common pitfalls like misaligned expectations and underestimated budgets and timelines.Andrei Kasyanau, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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Birdwatching tourism in Colombia has so far managed to avoid many of these pitfalls.Benji Jones, Vox, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Leftover charcuterie is a bit of a challenge, with items as diverse as fig jam or Jamón Ibérico and a vast spread of about six categories (carbs, meat, cheese, spreads, pickles, and nuts).Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2025
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The restaurant serves chili on burgers — which come in single, double and triple patty options, each with tomatoes, pickles, onions and mustard.Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Lamar Jackson led a furious final push down the field, capped with Isaiah Likely’s spectacular would-be game-tying touchdown snag.Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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When tested with Velcro and sharp jewelry, snags and holes were immediate and very noticeable.L.A. Hubilla, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The third-year pro recorded 46 catches for 601 yards and four touchdowns during the 2024 regular season, and added two catches for 13 yards prior to exiting against the Eagles.Jelani Scott, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
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As in every genie story, Gascón’s came with a catch.Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Catch-22.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch-22. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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