catch-22
Self-defeating logical trap
A catch-22 is a paradoxical situation where you're trapped by contradictory conditions—you can't get A without B, but you can't get B without A.
I need experience to get hired, but I can't get experience without being hired—it's a catch-22.
The term comes from Joseph Heller's 1961 novel, where a military rule declared that anyone rational enough to request discharge from dangerous combat duty was sane enough to fly, while anyone willing to fly was crazy but wouldn't ask to be grounded.
The phrase now applies to any no-win dilemma created by circular logic or bureaucratic absurdity. (Capitalized Catch-22 is the novel's title.)
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
- quandaryState of perplexity
- impossibilityState of being unachievable
absurdity · illogical · counterintuitive · oxymoron · antinomy · enigma · anomaly · inconsistency
Lacking any favorable outcome
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- impasseSituation without resolution
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
bind · predicament · corner · stuck · hopeless · inescapable · snare · straitjacket
Bureaucratic obstacles to action
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- loopholeExploitable gap in rules
- paperworkAdministrative written tasks
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
policy · administration · officialdom · procedure · technicality · fine print · compliance · authorization
Intense weary annoyance
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- futilityLack of purpose
- hopelessnessState without hope
- aggravationState of being vexed
despair · vexation · dismay · powerlessness · resignation · discouragement · bitterness · defeat
contradiction
Opposing claims, incompatible together
impossibility · absurdity · illogical · counterintuitive · oxymoron · antinomy · enigma · anomaly · inconsistency · self-defeating
no-win
Lacking any favorable outcome
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- impasseSituation without resolution
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
gridlock · bind · predicament · corner · stuck · hopeless · inescapable · snare · straitjacket · boxed in
red tape
Bureaucratic obstacles to action
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- loopholeExploitable gap in rules
- paperworkAdministrative written tasks
rules · policy · administration · officialdom · procedure · technicality · fine print · compliance · authorization · runaround
exasperation
Intense weary annoyance
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- futilityLack of purpose
- hopelessnessState without hope
aggravation · despair · vexation · dismay · powerlessness · resignation · discouragement · bitterness · defeat · stymied
- Coined Wordschortle, galumph, nerd, robot, quark
- impassesimpasse, deadlock, stalemate, standstill, gridlock
- Number Phrasesone and only, two cents, three strikes, four corners, five senses
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- tough choicestradeoffs, compromises, sacrifices, work-life balance, needs versus wants
catch-22way out
Means of departure
resolution · answer · clear path · escape route · closure
catch-22win-win situation
Outcome benefiting all parties
advantage · win-win · virtuous circle · level playing field · either-or
catch, catching, catches, catcher, catchers, catchable, uncatchable, recatch, catch-22s