Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

booby-trap

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of booby-trap

to place hidden explosive devices in or under
  • booby-trapped the field bordering the army's camp
Synonyms of booby-trap

mine
Words Related to booby-trap

blow up, bomb

ambush, snare, trap

attack

booby trap

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of booby trap

1 a usually concealed explosive device designed to go off when disturbed
  • luckily, the bomb squad didn't find any booby traps
Synonyms of booby trap

mine
Words Related to booby trap

claymore mine, land mine

torpedo

bomb, explosive

hazard, pitfall, snare, trap

ambush, net, web
2 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 of booby trap

catch, catch-22, gimmick, gotcha, hitch, joker, land mine, pitfall, snag
Words Related to booby trap

snare, trap, trip wire, web

hazard, peril, risk

bomb, bombshell, kicker, surprise (also surprize)

bait, decoy, lure

Learn More about booby-trap

  1. Britannica English: Translation of booby-trap for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up booby-trap? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

hamartia

Listen to the pronounciation of hamartia

a flaw that causes the downfall of a hero

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

  2. crawdad New novel makes waves

  3. non sequitur, sequitur Manafort judge addresses defense

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games