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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gotcha
And sometimes the gotcha nature of the reports backfires.
—
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
As ever, the side characters try to look suspicious until one (or more) of them is declared the killer, a gotcha that feels as arbitrary as roulette.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Seven months after the world became obsessed with the tech CEO and his HR chief stealing a kiss on the big screen at a Coldplay show, the gotcha moment seen ’round the world is coming to the Super Bowl.
—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2026
The gotcha setup sustains a solid level of suspense that carries through the series’ eight episodes (though it could easily have been trimmed to six).
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gotcha
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
As ever, the side characters try to look suspicious until one (or more) of them is declared the killer, a gotcha that feels as arbitrary as roulette.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Seven months after the world became obsessed with the tech CEO and his HR chief stealing a kiss on the big screen at a Coldplay show, the gotcha moment seen ’round the world is coming to the Super Bowl.
—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2026
The gotcha setup sustains a solid level of suspense that carries through the series’ eight episodes (though it could easily have been trimmed to six).
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gotcha
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gotcha
Noun
-
But once again, the party went without a hitch.
-
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.
Noun
-
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.
-
It is known to cause neurological problems, convulsions and comas, with children particularly at risk.
Noun
-
Greenstein made the remark at Fortune Brainstorm Tech in Aspen earlier this month as part of a roundtable that examined the benefits and pitfalls of rapid AI adoption across different corporate sectors.
-
Other Décor Mistakes While designers agree that a catalog-style room is one of the biggest decorating pitfalls, there are a few other details that can have a similar effect.
Noun
-
This worked fine most of the time, but might occasionally hit a snag.
-
An ugly snag, looking like last year’s Christmas tree, has reared itself out of the water about midstream.
Noun
-
Shoots them off the balance, catch-and-shoot, spot ups — just in various ways.
-
If the Heartbreakers debuted today, would the band be considered Americana — a catch-all phrase for songs that embrace influences from roots-rock, blues, soul, folk and country music?
Noun
-
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.
-
The zombie commission was one of the final land mines Adams left behind for his successor.
Noun
-
Folk, the Falcons’ 41-year-old kicker, fired his right leg through the ball, which went end-over-end through the uprights and sent his teammates — offensive and defensive — into an arm-lifting, voice-raising celebration.
-
Instead, the Browns scored the final 13 points of the game, including a 55-yard field goal from kicker Andre Szmyt as time expired.
Cite this Entry
“Gotcha.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gotcha. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
