land mine

noun

Synonyms of land minenext
: a mine usually placed just below the surface of the ground and designed to be exploded usually by the weight of vehicles or troops passing over it
often used figuratively
Every aspect of this scheme is a potential land mine.Henry Kissinger
a political land mine

Examples of land mine in a Sentence

parents of teenagers never know when they might set off an emotional land mine
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Areas are roped off and dotted with signs warning of land mines, a hazard Cambodians know well after decades of civil war that ended in the late 1990. ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026 In applications like land mine detection, a single mistake can be fatal. Sagar Lekhak, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026 Every day presents new potential land mines. Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026 This home was not his main compound, sources said, and the area was not studded with land mines. Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for land mine

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of land mine was in 1890

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Land mine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/land%20mine. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

land mine

noun
: a mine placed just below the surface of the ground and designed to be exploded by the weight of the vehicles or troops passing over it
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