booby-trap 1 of 2

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

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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 booby-trap
Noun
Trail cams may be easily spotted and removed – though the risk of booby traps can make this challenging – but they can quickly be replaced. David Hambling, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025 Jun-ho’s drone picks up on a door on the ground that turns out to be a booby trap that kills one person and injures another. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024 And that does not even consider the likelihood of a beacon which is also a booby trap. David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024 From guns to booby traps, Dutch leads the charge to take down the gnarly, terrifying looking alien. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 28 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
Verb
  • Cardi also dropped a trailer for the album, showing her inside a house as crows swarm and attack her mansion.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The green and whites play excellent attacking soccer and with Isco pulling the strings there is always a chance Betis could upset a big club.
    Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Seek Out Inspirations In Marrakech’s Souks The warren-like souks in the heart of the city are a mine of joyous, idiosyncratic design.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The Russell patriarch also dispatched Larry to Arizona, where his son discovered that mines were, in fact, full of copper, meaning their businesses were financially stable again.
    Stacy Lambe, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • After a bit of suspense over whether or not Mrs. Astor would attend, Mrs. Astor showed up as a sign of support, and Bertha's ball went off without a hitch.
    Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025
  • The wedding of Sophie and Edward went on without a hitch in June 1999.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Just before Folds stepped onstage for his show, his tour manager held up his phone to show him the news: the U.S. had bombed Iran.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025
  • The deputy head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is headed to Iran on Monday, the first visit by an official from the top nuclear watchdog since the United States bombed three of the regime’s nuclear sites in June.
    Zach LaChance, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Thailand's decision followed a land mine blast that wounded five Thai soldiers along the disputed border.
    Britt Clennett, ABC News, 28 July 2025
  • With more sustained military, technological, and economic support, Ukraine could develop new advantages, such as better integrating drones, land mines, and long-range fires to pin down Russian forces and take out their logistics nodes.
    Michael Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Two adults were pronounced dead at the scene, and one young female passenger was trapped inside the vehicle, authorities said.
    Sam Gillette, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • What Causes Smelly Feet? According to WebMD, the main cause of smelly feet is trapped sweat.
    Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The study also found that swapping potatoes for whole grains lowered diabetes risk even more.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 8 Aug. 2025
  • And yet, many still choose to take the risk to come to this country in search of safety and opportunity.
    Sam Wolson, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Then comes the other source of snags: the differences among partners that develop as any plan comes together.
    Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 29 July 2025
  • The back-and-forth over the yearlong negotiation process has hit another snag after apparent mixed messaging between the city and the union.
    Alex Brizee July 18, Idaho Statesman, 18 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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