booby-trap 1 of 2

verb

Definition of booby-trapnext
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
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
  1. attack
  2. mine
  3. hitch
  4. bomb
  5. land mine
  6. trap
  7. risk
  8. snag
Verb
  • Investigators determined that a group of men had attacked him at his San Jose home and that one of them struck him in the face with the handle of a firearm, police said.
    — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
  • Refineries are maxed out, especially after Iran attacked 30 Middle Eastern refineries during the course of the war.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Excellent job, acknowledges both her physical transformation and that her mouth can get her into more trouble than mine does at the underwear party in Fire Island.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Here is what that looks like in mine, offered as practice rather than virtue.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of mine
Noun
  • Their receiver’s probably never seen an actual hitch put into it.
    — Joel Feder, The Drive, 9 July 2026
  • Before every project hits the factory floor, a computer analysis calculates every cut and sorts out unforeseen hitches that can bring traditional projects to a halt such as conflicts between plumbing lines and bearing walls, Glenn said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of hitch
Verb
  • For months, Washington has threatened to bomb cartel targets in Mexico, a scenario Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly rejects.
    — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • When America and Israel started bombing Iran, our military bombed an elementary school, killing more than 160 children.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
Definition of bomb
Noun
  • One image showing land mines was widely republished by Thai media outlets and bolstered Thailand's claims that Cambodia had laid new mines along the border that wounded patrolling Thai soldiers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 June 2026
Definition of land mine
Verb
  • That ought to be advantageous for the Spaniard, who seemed too often to run aground when trapped inside in a more narrow system.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • These defects trap electrical charges, which lowers efficiency and makes permanent damage more likely during reverse-bias operation.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
Definition of trap
Noun
  • By applying sunscreen before heading outdoors, reapplying throughout the day and pairing it with other forms of sun protection, Mercer said people can reduce their risk of sunburn, premature skin aging and skin cancer.
    — Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Stock market offerings worth $50 billion could flood the Indian markets this year, though the continuation of the Iran war remains a key risk.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • SpaceX has caught Super Heavy three times to date, but it's been a while; the last such snag came on Flight 8 in March 2025.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 July 2026
  • Not securing the zippers, ties, or buttons on your duvet cover before washing—these can get tangled or snag.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026
Definition of snag

Browse Nearby Words

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booby-trap
booby trap
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Cite this Entry

“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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