1
as in risk
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized buying a house can be full of pitfalls for the unwary

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2
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm one of the pitfalls of ignorance is that people will also assume you're stupid

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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 pitfall In her interview with Us Weekly, Rimes said the lifetime achievement that gives her the most pride is surviving the pitfalls of child stardom — noting that many others have died young. Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025 Buckle up for a college football Saturday loaded with potential pitfalls for big-name programs. Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Growing up in the Cities, you are exposed to certain pitfalls that every youth has, opportunities for self-sabotage; reading Basil Johnston’s books and digging into my art with that reflecting in mind helped keep me out of trouble and steer me towards being an artist. Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 8 Oct. 2025 In western Australia, in a patch of ancient forest undisturbed by people, researchers set up pitfall traps with the goal of collecting elusive spiders. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfall
Noun
  • The risk to coffee production from climate change has some researchers trying to develop more climate-resistant varieties of coffee.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • This can increase the risk of burns or further injury.
    RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • With increasing space traffic from various nations and private companies, keeping tabs on potential collisions and threats becomes crucial.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • His two Mann Act convictions had carried the threat of a combined maximum of 20 years in prison.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The only hitch was the two-handed pinch-and-hold gesture for rotating some objects.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Season 51 of the variety series has seemed to have gone on without a hitch after several notable names left the show ahead of the new season's premiere.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • These discrepancies have led to confusion, fear, and, in some cases, physical danger.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • With satellites orbiting the Earth exploding into tens of thousands of pieces, the danger of collisions with space debris is a major problem, so Atomic-6 has developed new Space Armor tiles that are lighter and more effective than current systems.
    David Szondy October 26, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Below, snag must-have savings before the sale ends on October 29.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The Miami Hurricanes hit their first snag of the season with their upset loss to the Louisville Cardinals on Friday.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfall. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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