1
as in risk
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized buying a house can be full of pitfalls for the unwary

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2
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm one of the pitfalls of ignorance is that people will also assume you're stupid

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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 pitfall Recognizing these pitfalls early is what keeps a strong business moving forward. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Avoid these common pitfalls to get the most from your tires. Wes Siler, Outside, 16 Sep. 2025 But the search continues, and despite all those pitfalls, hospitals and physicians are using unapproved tests that are available to screen patients, often at exorbitant costs. Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025 Gold is on a record run — here’s how to invest, according to experts Active managers struggled ‘mightily’ to beat index funds amid volatility How wealthy investors use ETFs to skirt capital gains taxes Here are some pitfalls to know before pouring money into new ETFs, experts say. Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfall
Noun
  • Many have significant reservations about the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccine, despite assurances from most experts that the benefits outweigh the risks.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
  • But the ground level faces severe flooding risks through a combination of rainstorms and earthquakes that bring soil water to the surface, per a study conducted in 2016 by the San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In 2021, Discord helped thwart an attack on an Ohio synagogue after reporting threats by the would-be assailant to law enforcement.
    Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Last year demonstrated that late September and early October can be an active period for tropical development, with multiple threats that may be high-impact and potentially devastating.
    Daniel Peck, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After the surgery, though, there was a hitch.
    Jon Hamilton, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Turns out there is also a sizable hitch in the AI internal code-generation mechanics.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Authorities said there was no further danger to the public.
    Jack Moore, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2025
  • The scene is still an active investigation, but there is no further danger to the public.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Syed's push for a new trial hit another snag in March 2019 when the Court of Appeals reversed the findings of the lower courts and denied his request for a new trial, according to The New York Times.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The basic bands have the perfect amount of stretch and a smooth surface that doesn’t tug or snag.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfall. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.

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