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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
Justin Dunnavant, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2025
Some enterprising Viet Cong had defused this and turned into a booby trap detonatable by wires from brush a few hundred feet away.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 27 July 2025
The trailer teases the film’s July release with action, booby traps, and terrified faces.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
Last month gangs burned or confiscated at least a half-dozen armored carriers belonging to the police and the mission after setting booby traps and catching cops off guard.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Noun
Colonial militias attempted periodic raids, but historical records report that they were met with rugged terrain, booby traps and counterattacks.
—Justin Dunnavant, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2025
Some enterprising Viet Cong had defused this and turned into a booby trap detonatable by wires from brush a few hundred feet away.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 27 July 2025
The trailer teases the film’s July release with action, booby traps, and terrified faces.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
Last month gangs burned or confiscated at least a half-dozen armored carriers belonging to the police and the mission after setting booby traps and catching cops off guard.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
Verb
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In the hands of editor Richard Mettler, some of those fragments serve montages that interlace how the tribes prepare to defend themselves with the way Jalabzeen readies himself to attack.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
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Having attacked the edge of the six-yard box, Rodon has to back-pedal and meet the ball, again, wide of the goal.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The company is one of the world’s fastest-growing gold producers, with interests in eight mines located in regions across Central Asia, South America, Oceania and Africa.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
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General Motors has a minority stake in lithium mine, which is in northern Nevada.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At the campaign rally, everything appears to be going off without a hitch.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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My first story time went off without a hitch.—
Nina West
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Junta forces have bombed civilians in a bid to suppress rebellious provinces, killing thousands.—
Dan Swift,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
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If Smith had bombed and Wilson had flourished in Denver, the stakes could have been high for Schneider.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
29 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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In the rather chaotic encounter with journalists in the Oval Office, both Trump and Zelensky avoided stepping on any rhetorical land mines.—
Ben Wedeman,
CNN Money,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
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Many moths, attracted to the ultraviolet lights, were captured during a light-trapping excursion near Malles Venosta, Italy.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Providing fiber for digestion, there’s fresh broccoli along with antioxidants to help reduce the risk of certain cancers.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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MacLean added that Venezuelans with TPS who are currently in custody and lack any other form of protection will now face a serious risk of deportation.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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However, there remain several potential snags.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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This isn't the first time the snag of a home run ball has topped headlines this season.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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