as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
the gotcha in the low monthly rate quoted by the cable company is that it is a teaser and good for only six months
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Recent Examples of gotcha
Devers eventually agreed to be the DH but then played a game of punitive gotcha with management by refusing to grab a glove and give first base a try after Triston Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon and was lost for the season.
—
Steve Buckley, New York Times, 16 June 2025
That’s not a gotcha moment for Timberwolves coach Chris Finch.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
One interviewee with his answers fully prepared is, unsurprisingly, Hansen himself — whose extensive one-to-one with the filmmaker is the doc’s startling third-act coup, albeit not one of seismic revelations or aggressive gotcha tactics.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025
Further, challenges remain in the areas of regulatory, ground and airspace infrastructure and a host of other design and market gotchas that must be addressed.
—Brian Foley, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gotcha
Steve Buckley, New York Times, 16 June 2025
That’s not a gotcha moment for Timberwolves coach Chris Finch.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
One interviewee with his answers fully prepared is, unsurprisingly, Hansen himself — whose extensive one-to-one with the filmmaker is the doc’s startling third-act coup, albeit not one of seismic revelations or aggressive gotcha tactics.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025
Further, challenges remain in the areas of regulatory, ground and airspace infrastructure and a host of other design and market gotchas that must be addressed.
—Brian Foley, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gotcha
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gotcha
Noun
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With the exception of an emergency alarm mistakenly blaring for a few seconds late in the first half, the debut of the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium went off without a hitch, and that included the outcome.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 Aug. 2025
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Boone said Stanton, 35, had gotten ready to pinch-hit in Friday’s game without a hitch.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Additionally, children and teens whose household contacts are at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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Minutes of the Fed’s July 29-30 meeting released Wednesday, Aug. 20, showed most officials regarded high inflation, not a weak job market, as the largest risk.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Advocates believe these skills will help students avoid financial pitfalls, like taking on too much debt, and will give them the confidence to make informed decisions about their future.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Aug. 2025
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Below, 17 members of Forbes Coaches Council share expert insights regarding the potential pitfalls of using AI as a replacement for professional coaching, and why human connection is still its primary driver.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Then comes the other source of snags: the differences among partners that develop as any plan comes together.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
29 July 2025
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The back-and-forth over the yearlong negotiation process has hit another snag after apparent mixed messaging between the city and the union.—
Alex Brizee
July 18,
Idaho Statesman,
18 July 2025
Noun
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But by the time that center fielder Jackson Merrill’s error on what should have been an inning-ending catch allowed two more runs to score — after another walk — the mission had seemingly switched to giving the Padres as much length as possible.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
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Teodosio made a spectacular catch in the right-center field gap in the third inning.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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Finland has formally notified the United Nations (U.N.) of its intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of antipersonnel land mines, according to Reuters—a move that several European allies have made in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Noun
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For Loop, though, Saturday certainly beats the alternative of missing kicks and triggering talk that the Ravens need to sign a veteran kicker.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
17 Aug. 2025
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McNamee, a rookie kicker from Ireland, missed a 39-yard field goal on Green Bay’s opening drive.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Gotcha.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gotcha. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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