1
as in mines
a usually concealed explosive device designed to go off when disturbed
luckily, the bomb squad didn't find any booby traps
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in risks
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 traps
Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
For a novice member of the field, the coolest details of the event doubled as booby traps.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Specialized teams were called to the scene to defuse booby traps in the residential building, city police said.
—CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Specialized teams were called to the scene to defuse booby traps in the building, police said.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
These may show up in Ukraine before long, perhaps walking ahead of patrols to find booby traps and clear routes through minefields, or taking bullets to expose enemy firing position.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Colonial militias attempted periodic raids, but historical records report that they were met with rugged terrain, booby traps and counterattacks.
—Justin Dunnavant, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
The Duffers add that one of the key inspirations for this season is Home Alone—specifically the booby traps.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
For a novice member of the field, the coolest details of the event doubled as booby traps.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Specialized teams were called to the scene to defuse booby traps in the residential building, city police said.
—CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Specialized teams were called to the scene to defuse booby traps in the building, police said.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
These may show up in Ukraine before long, perhaps walking ahead of patrols to find booby traps and clear routes through minefields, or taking bullets to expose enemy firing position.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Colonial militias attempted periodic raids, but historical records report that they were met with rugged terrain, booby traps and counterattacks.
—Justin Dunnavant, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby traps
Noun
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The tests — with buses driven in underground mines to strip away external signals — were conducted both on brand-new Yutong buses and on three-year old vehicles from Dutch bus manufacturer VDL, the company said.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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The technology could transform how search-and-rescue robots navigate collapsed mines or disaster sites, where speed and accuracy can make the difference between life and death.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Proper humidifier placement protects your home and health by preventing mold, moisture damage, and safety risks.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The risks inherent in the LBO structure are exacerbated by the amount of debt PSKY must incur, its current financial position and future prospects, as well as the lengthy period to close the transaction – which PSKY itself estimates to be 12-18 months following signing.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Or how a British charity cleared 300,000 land mines left over from a civil war in Sri Lanka, foot by foot.—
David Pogue,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2025
-
Byrne’s brows immediately furrow, her face a map of emotional land mines.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Many have had the wheels or hitches removed years ago.—
Cassie Powell,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The two-door, three-person Can-Am Defender Limited and the four-door, six-person Defender Max Limited have 82-horsepower engines, power steering, tow hitches with a 2,500-pound towing capacity, winches, air conditioning and heating, a full hard roof and a three-position tilt-up glass windshield.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Negotiations have hit snags at several points in the weeks since.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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The dryer weakens the delicate threads and the motion can cause tears and snags.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Booby traps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby%20traps. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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