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
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 Wary of booby traps and with evening closing in, the troops did not enter the building until the next day. James MacKenzie, Reuters, 18 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
Verb
  • The wild and ugly scenes saw rioters attack law enforcement with rocks and Molotov cocktails while others burned vehicles and other property.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
  • Boone acknowledged that location will be key for Stroman, who can no longer attack hitters head-on at this stage of his career.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Escaping its grip will require more than mine permits and short-term funding.
    Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 29 June 2025
  • For generations, Connecticut’s fields have supported families like mine, anchoring rural communities and shaping the character of our state.
    Nathaniel Trojanoski, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • The show began without a hitch, but about 20 to 25 minutes later, there were whispers of confusion, then a panicked commotion.
    Jordan Friedman, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2025
  • Priyanka's promo for Heads of State appears to have gone off without a hitch otherwise.
    Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • Trump said military pilots who successfully bombed Iran will be guests for a flyover of military planes during the patriotic ceremony.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 5 July 2025
  • The Twelve-Day War between Israel and Iran in June concluded shortly after the United States intervened by bombing Iranian nuclear sites with 30,000-pound bunker busters dropped by strategic B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Ukraine exiting anti-land-mine pact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to withdraw Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention banning antipersonnel land mines, a Ukrainian lawmaker said Sunday.
    Volodymyr Yurchuk, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree to withdraw Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention banning antipersonnel land mines, a Ukrainian lawmaker said Sunday.
    Volodymyr Yurchuk, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Made from a durable and porous nylon-spandex blend, the skort doesn’t trap heat.
    Esme Benjamin, People.com, 1 July 2025
  • These filters trap smoke particles and other pollutants, helping keep the air inside your car cleaner.
    Bethany Wales, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Flexible working at risk Synthesia’s Voica warned that workers who take advantage of flexible working policies risk painting other engineers in a bad light, and could have these benefits taken away.
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 July 2025
  • The hurdles at these valuation levels are higher, but optimism about future corporate earnings has improved as economic downside risks have receded.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • But despite his popularity in the heavily Democratic state, Newsom’s governorship has continued to hit snags.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 12 June 2025
  • But both hit snags in May as fiscal reality set in.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 9 June 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 11 Jul. 2025.

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