| Main Entry: | catch-22 |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | no-win situation |
Synonyms: |
contradiction, dilemma, lose-lose, paradox, quagmire |
| Main Entry: | catch |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | trick, hidden disadvantage |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, conundrum, deception, decoy, drawback, fly in the ointment, hitch, joke, puzzle, puzzler, snag, stumbling block, trap |
| Main Entry: | dead end |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | cul-de-sac; deadlock |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, blank wall, blind alley, corner, draw, impasse, nowhere to turn, obstacle, road block, stalemate, standoff, stumbling block |
| Main Entry: | deadlock |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stalemate, impasse |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, box*, cessation, checkmate, corner, dead end, dead heat, dilemma, draw, full stop, gridlock, halt, hole, pause, pickle, plight, posture, predicament, quandary, standoff, standstill, tie, wall* |
| Notes: | stalemate does not end - it is the outcome (stale in stalemate is from Anglo-Norman meaning 'be placed'); a standoff or deadlock can end |
Antonyms: |
agreement, breakthrough |
| Main Entry: | dilemma |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | crisis |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, bind*, box*, corner, difficulty, double bind, embarrassment, fix, hole, hooker, impasse, jam, mess, mire, perplexity, pickle, plight, predicament, problem, puzzle, quandary, scrape, spot, strait, tight corner |
Antonyms: |
miracle, solution, wonder |
| Main Entry: | flaw |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | imperfection |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, blemish, bug, catch*, defect, disfigurement, failing, fault, foible, glitch*, gremlin, pitfall, slipup, speck, spot, stain, typo, vice, wart, weak spot, weakness |
Antonyms: |
fine point, perfection, strength |
| Main Entry: | hindrance |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | obstruction, difficulty |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, albatross, baggage, ball and chain, bar, barrier, catch, check, clog, crimp, cumbrance, deterrent, drag, drawback, encumbrance, excess baggage, foot dragging, glitch*, gridlock, handicap, hang-up, hitch, impedance, impediment, interference, interruption, intervention, jam-up, joker, limitation, lock, millstone, monkey wrench, obstacle, restraint, restriction, snag, stoppage, stumbling block, trammel |
Antonyms: |
advance, aid, assistance, encouragement, expedition, help, promotion, push |
| Main Entry: | impasse |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stalemate |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, box*, cessation, corner*, cul-de-sac, dead end, deadlock, dilemma, fix, gridlock, jam, mire*, morass, pause, pickle, plight, predicament, quandary, rest, scrape*, standoff, standstill |
Antonyms: |
agreement, breakthrough |
| Main Entry: | impediment |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | obstruction, hindrance |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, bar, barricade, barrier, block, blockage, bottleneck, burden, catch*, chain, check, clog, cramp, curb, dead weight, defect, delay, deterrent, detriment, difficulty, disadvantage, drag*, drawback, encumbrance, fault, flaw, handicap, hazard, hitch, holdup, hurdle, inhibition, load, manacle, millstone, obstacle, prohibition, red tape, restraint, restriction, retardation, retardment, road block, rub*, setback, shackle, snag, stoppage, stricture, stumbling block, tie, trammel, wall |
Antonyms: |
aid, assistance, facilitation, furtherance, help, support |
| Main Entry: | obstacle |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | impediment, barrier |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, bar, block, booby trap, bump*, catch, check, clog, crimp, difficulty, disincentive, encumbrance, hamper, handicap, hang-up, hardship, hindrance, hitch*, hurdle, interference, interruption, joker*, monkey wrench, mountain, obstruction, restriction, rub*, snag, stumbling block, traverse, vicissitude |
Antonyms: |
advantage, assistance, blessing, clearance, help |