land mines

noun

plural of land mine
as in risks
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized parents of teenagers never know when they might set off an emotional land mine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 land mines Since the wars ended, land mines and unexploded ordnance have killed approximately 90,000 people and wounded almost twice as many across the three countries. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 More than any other sports league, the WNBA is fraught with land mines that are ready to explode whenever a Black woman — like, Alyssa Thomas — commits a hard foul on, say, the league’s most visible star, Caitlin Clark. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026 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. — Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 June 2026 The zombie commission was one of the final land mines Adams left behind for his successor. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026 Politics was the focus of the discussion, a topic that too often comes with land mines when two opposing views are on display. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Apopo says more than six million land mines may still be buried in the soil of Cambodia. — Scott Simon, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026 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 At least 57 nations have live antipersonnel land mines in their territories. — Sagar Lekhak, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for land mines
  1. risks
  2. hitches
  3. booby traps
  4. snags
Noun
  • Since 2021, nearly 50 North Carolina hospitals and the state’s health department have begun distributing the wristbands, to give mothers and care providers a visual reminder of the life-threatening health risks after birth.
    — Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The rapid release of stockpiles in the wake of disruption related to the Iran war is raising the operational risks.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of risks
Noun
  • Before every project hits the factory floor, a computer analysis calculates every cut and sorts out unforeseen hitches that can bring traditional projects to a halt such as conflicts between plumbing lines and bearing walls, Glenn said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Definition of hitches
Noun
  • But first, Roy has to undo all the booby traps in there placed to mess with visiting teams’ heads.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The gauntlet of booby traps culminating in the giant boulder that kick off Raiders is my single favorite opening sequence in a movie ever.
    — Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026
Definition of booby traps
Noun
  • As Rhaenyra slowly descends into a pit of despair and desperation, Daemon and his armies run into some snags on their assault of Tumbleton thanks to the various tricks Lord Ormund has up his sleeves.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Despite my pup’s best attempts, there have been no snags or stains.
    — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of snags

Browse Nearby Words

land mine
land mines
landowner
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Cite this Entry

“Land mines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/land%20mines. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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