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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
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Recent Examples of booby-trap
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
30 Jan. 2026
Deputies said during the initial call that neighbors had reported gunshots being fired and that a second caller, who claimed to have fired the gun, had placed booby traps around a home in the Kavala Ranch development.
—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
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
Deputies said during the initial call that neighbors had reported gunshots being fired and that a second caller, who claimed to have fired the gun, had placed booby traps around a home in the Kavala Ranch development.
—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
Verb
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Vance, asked by a reporter about the criticism from the Israeli government, singled out Israeli Cabinet officials who have attacked the deal, saying Netanyahu has not shared the same opposition in the vice president's conversations with him.
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After the good Samaritan got him off the woman, witnesses say the man wandered to produce and began attacking a 16-year-old boy, but Garbe had followed him.
Noun
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China’s Zijin Mining has introduced 290 battery-electric haul trucks at its Wulagen zinc mine in Xinjiang.
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Abandoned coal mines and slag piles – mountains of waste left over from steel, mining and coal operations – continue to contribute dissolved materials to southwestern Pennsylvania waters.
Noun
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But once again, the party went without a hitch.
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In Houston, some drivers were up to their trailer hitches in lapping waters, while photos from Waco, Texas, showed roadways washed away by the storms.
Verb
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The Battle of Britain began as German forces bombed shipping convoys in the English Channel, attacking its ports and radar stations.
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Another bad fix bombing out the moment it was most needed.
Noun
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The younger Modrić’s childhood home in the village of Jasenice was abandoned and remains so to this day, with signs warning visitors of land mines in the area.
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The zombie commission was one of the final land mines Adams left behind for his successor.
Verb
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Videos shared online showed guests and employees rushing to help those trapped beneath the fallen structure, with several people lifting sections of the metal frame before first responders arrived.
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Lucy was trapped under the boat and died the next day in the hospital.
Noun
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The letter warns that those credits are now at risk of expiring, and argues that they should be made refundable or transferable.
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His attorneys said his blood sugar levels were only checked once a month in the jail, putting him at risk of organ failure or even death.
Noun
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Ionic technology helps regulate heat and flatten thick hair types while eliminating frizz, and the ceramic plates deliver a shiny, snag-free finish that's especially useful for thick hair prone to tangles.
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Despite overall improvements across the district in both the high school EOC STAAR test and the 3-8 exams, Licata announced last week that more than a dozen schools experienced notable snags that would qualify them for the Elevate network.
Cite this Entry
“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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