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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
Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
While claims of booby traps and rivers of mercury would likely make anyone think twice about entering the tomb, this is not the main barrier to full excavation.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
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
When two bumbling thieves (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) attempt to rob his home, Kevin begins an elaborately violent, slapstick battle of wits via booby traps involving a tarantula, paint buckets, and flamethrowers.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
While claims of booby traps and rivers of mercury would likely make anyone think twice about entering the tomb, this is not the main barrier to full excavation.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
Verb
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The woman told officers that at some point, Morehead came back and brutally attacked her, including punching her in the face and stomach and dragging her back inside.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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Two minutes later, Towns attacked Onyeka Okongwu off the dribble for a dunk.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some of the older mines in Datong are near the end of their lives.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
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And if your name’s on the door like mine is, your reputation is everything.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Both ballot measures failed, but post-election analysis showed that both counties pulled off all-mail balloting without much of a hitch or any challenge to its procedures or validity.—
ORLANDO SENTINEL AND MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL BOARDS,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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The second test went off without a hitch in 2019.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Residents say the Israelis have prevented residents — most of whom work in agriculture — from accessing their farmland near the border; other fields were bombed with white phosphorous, Lebanese authorities said, destroying vegetation and thousands of trees.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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The president set the deadline in a Truth Social post on Sunday, after issuing a profane message renewing threats to bomb key Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not open the strait –– a chokepoint in the global energy trade.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Apopo says more than six million land mines may still be buried in the soil of Cambodia.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
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OpenAI’s paper conspicuously avoids specifying a corporate tax rate, a diplomatic omission that suggests the company knows where the political land mines are buried.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This step absorbs odors trapped deep in the fibers and leaves your couch smelling noticeably fresh.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
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Cooling in two dimensions In a new set of experiments conducted by researchers at the University of Vienna, TU Wien, and Ulm University, the team trapped a nano-dumbbell rotor using a laser’s electric field.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Interfaith Advisory Commission would help to coordinate religious services, address the needs of at-risk communities, and provide a platform for education and awareness on integrating different traditions.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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By Mark Gurman | Bloomberg Apple’s first foldable phone is on track to arrive during the company’s normal iPhone launch period later this year, people with knowledge of the matter said, rebutting concerns about major manufacturing snags.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
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The current deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end the partial government shutdown is a two-step process, and once again there is a snag.—
Tia Mitchell,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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