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
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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
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Recent Examples of booby traps
David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby traps
Noun
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Exploiting mines needed for rare earth minerals could also be complicated.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Revived interest in nuclear power as a source of clean energy is providing the demand while operational problems at two of the world’s biggest uranium mines is crimping supply.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Others say that approach risks keeping critical documents under wraps and delays a fuller accounting.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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At Electric Goddess, their projects begin with an in-depth strategy session to align on goals, risks, and vision before tailoring a plan that fits.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There are different ways to demine territory, from using dogs to sniff out land mines to sappers—combat engineers focusing on clearing mines—manually working their way through an area, or operators remotely controlling large demining machines.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
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The ninth inning revealed other land mines.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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My connection often improved a few minutes later, but those drops could result in stuttering in games, hitches in streaming, and slow file downloads.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Crews remain committed to the Garden Fire, which is burning in an area of snags on very steep terrain.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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It's pumiced enough to have no snags, no irks.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Booby traps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby%20traps. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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