Another Word For Catch 22

Meaning

The term 'catch 22' refers to a frustrating situation where an individual cannot escape a problem because of contradictory rules or conditions. Essentially, it is a no-win scenario where one is trapped by the very rules that should provide a solution. The term often implies that there is no way to succeed because of these paradoxical circumstances.

Synonyms

• Paradox
• Dilemma
• Quandary
• Conundrum
• Catch-22 Situation

Antonyms

• Solution
• Advantage
• Opportunity
• Win-win situation
• Resolution

Etymology

The term 'catch 22' originates from Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22, published in 1961. In the novel, a catch-22 is a rule governing a military bureaucracy that prevents soldiers from avoiding dangerous missions; one cannot escape the missions unless deemed insane, but requesting to be declared insane is a sign of sanity, thus making it impossible to opt-out.

Examples

1. After getting a job offer, she realized she was in a catch 22: she needed experience to get a job, but she needed a job to gain experience.
2. The company’s strict policy on employee training created a catch 22, where employees couldn’t advance without training, but training was too expensive without a promotion.
3. During the meeting, we discussed the catch 22 of wanting to cut costs while also insisting on maintaining quality.