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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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Picture Indiana Jones swapping his fedora for a Han dynasty helmet, dodging booby traps in dusty Chinese tombs. — Urnesha Bhattacherjee, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026 In the days leading up to the attack, Ghazali allegedly rigged his truck with booby traps, fireworks, explosives, and large amounts of gasoline. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 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
  • Qatar and Oman have also been attacked by Iranian drones and missiles.
    — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Fire grows after manhunt keeps crews out The Mineral Fire grew to 18 acres by Monday morning after the armed manhunt prevented firefighters from attacking it for hours.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Industrial operators can deploy them to inspect narrow pipelines, ventilation shafts, sewers, and underground mines for structural flaws.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The Al-Zara gold mine is one of thousands of small-scale and informal mines scattered across Sudan, which has been engulfed in a war that has at times pushed parts of the country into famine.
    — Yasir Abdallah, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of mine
Noun
  • As Clear Lake faces mercury contamination, toxic algal blooms and predatory invasive fish, the Clear Lake hitch — known by local tribes as the chi — are in serious trouble.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Swing trailer-hitch bike rack this summer and absolutely loved it.
    — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of hitch
Verb
  • Most of these were later destroyed when the family house was bombed during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The person in the White House has asked Ukraine to stop bombing Russian refineries and oil/gas/diesel facilities.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of bomb
Noun
  • Poy was wounded in a second land mine explosion that pierced his face and body with shrapnel and killed three of his colleagues.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • More than any other sports league, the WNBA is fraught with land mines that are ready to explode whenever a Black woman — like, Alyssa Thomas — commits a hard foul on, say, the league’s most visible star, Caitlin Clark.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of land mine
Verb
  • Some people were trapped inside vehicles, while another was tossed out into an intersection.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Residents lay trapped under slabs of concrete, pleading for help.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of trap
Noun
  • For their part, Chinese leaders have also sounded the alarm about AI, warning of the risks posed by foreign entities with advanced capabilities.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Today, the most-valuable conversations are about what the information means, what risk is emerging and what action should be taken next.
    — Suresh Rajapakse, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • Evans explains that a dead or dying tree, typically called a snag, provides ecosystem benefits, including habitat for birds and other wildlife, food and shelter for insects, and organic matter and structure for soil health.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Gurman claims the foldable is still on track for this fall, despite chatter about manufacturing snags.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of snag

Browse Nearby Words

booby
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 23 Sep. 2026.

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