booby-trap 1 of 2

verb

Definition of booby-trapnext
as in to attack
to place hidden explosive devices in or under booby-trapped the field bordering the army's camp

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booby trap

2 of 2

noun

1
as in mine
a usually concealed explosive device designed to go off when disturbed luckily, the bomb squad didn't find any booby traps

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2
as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized he noticed the booby trap in the interviewer's question just a little too late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of booby-trap
Verb
So what is a modernist like Mayer, who made such cool craft of ancient stuff 20 years ago with Spring Awakening, to do with something as hokey and booby-trapped as Chess? — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
The movie’s biggest laughs come from Kevin’s hijinks, which involve setting up complex booby traps to fend off a pair of burglars targeting his family’s home. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026 Their 2025-26 season has been littered with injury landmines and other booby traps hidden in the walls of Ball Arena. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
  1. attack
  2. mine
  3. hitch
  4. bomb
  5. land mine
  6. trap
  7. risk
  8. snag
Verb
  • Somebody years ago should have realized NSA Bahrain could be attacked, its air defense might fail and it could be disabled in a long war.
    — John Seiler, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The meeting was not received well by many Democrats, who attacked Jeffries over it.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Students will also study mines and explosive hazards, first aid for combat injuries, chemical and radiation exposure and acute stress, as well as survival training and procedures for operating in conflict zones.
    — Bloomberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Compass Minerals and Morton Salt, which are both headquartered in Overland Park, own and operate Canadian mines and transfer salt across the border.
    — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of mine
Noun
  • The only hitch was that the move to Juventus broke down, leaving Suzuki and Martinez in the same squad.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Wang hopes that SharkNinja will continue to ease American consumer friction long into the future, and that his Chinese nationality won’t be a hitch.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hitch
Verb
  • Hmeimin served as a hub for Syrian warplanes that repeatedly bombed anti-Assad opposition groups, killing several civilians and destroying large parts of Syria’s infrastructure, including hospitals and medical facilities, in the process.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Their meeting came days after Trump threatened to bomb the country over their Strait of Hormuz negotiations with Iran.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of bomb
Noun
  • Poy was wounded in a second land mine explosion that pierced his face and body with shrapnel and killed three of his colleagues.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • More than any other sports league, the WNBA is fraught with land mines that are ready to explode whenever a Black woman — like, Alyssa Thomas — commits a hard foul on, say, the league’s most visible star, Caitlin Clark.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of land mine
Verb
  • That snow warms the ground below and allows microbes during the winter to release more of the heat-trapping gas methane, Elmendorf said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Making memory foam breathe Cooling materials can only do so much if warm air remains trapped inside a mattress, so ventilation makes up another substantial part of the design.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of trap
Noun
  • Analysts warn that beyond crowded positioning and technical pullbacks, fundamental risks within the AI supply chain may also be emerging.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • States alleged that Meta’s internal research documented links between Instagram use and harms including depression, anxiety and body-image concerns among young people, while the company publicly minimized or concealed those risks.
    — Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • Seeing the Braves compete in this series with the Dodgers, from the walk-off win to the ace performances to the timely snags to Truist Park’s eruptions, hearkened back memories of October 2021.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Clear one practical snag, simplify one expectation, and give your body enough support to keep the day balanced.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of snag

Browse Nearby Words

booby
booby-trap
booby trap
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Cite this Entry

“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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