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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of booby-trap
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
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
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
Verb
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His pace routinely bothered Sweden, including on one impressive solo run in the first half that produced a quality attacking scenario.
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The video then shows the woman throwing Martinez to the ground, grabbing her by the hair and repeatedly attacking her as bystanders try to step in and help.
Noun
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China’s Zijin Mining has introduced 290 battery-electric haul trucks at its Wulagen zinc mine in Xinjiang.
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Abandoned coal mines and slag piles – mountains of waste left over from steel, mining and coal operations – continue to contribute dissolved materials to southwestern Pennsylvania waters.
Noun
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But once again, the party went without a hitch.
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In Houston, some drivers were up to their trailer hitches in lapping waters, while photos from Waco, Texas, showed roadways washed away by the storms.
Verb
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The Battle of Britain began as German forces bombed shipping convoys in the English Channel, attacking its ports and radar stations.
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Another bad fix bombing out the moment it was most needed.
Noun
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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.
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The zombie commission was one of the final land mines Adams left behind for his successor.
Verb
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Videos shared online showed guests and employees rushing to help those trapped beneath the fallen structure, with several people lifting sections of the metal frame before first responders arrived.
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Lucy was trapped under the boat and died the next day in the hospital.
Noun
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In addition to the fear of deportation, the ruling puts thousands of immigrants at risk of losing their work authorization and their jobs, according to a Haitian-American journalist.
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It is known to cause neurological problems, convulsions and comas, with children particularly at risk.
Noun
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This worked fine most of the time, but might occasionally hit a snag.
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An ugly snag, looking like last year’s Christmas tree, has reared itself out of the water about midstream.
Cite this Entry
“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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