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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pitfall
Some law enforcement agencies are aware of the pitfalls of drug test evidence.
—
Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Why beginners often overspend on gold When just starting, several pitfalls can cause investors to overspend on gold.
—Nick Perry, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
On paper, at least, Disney has set up D’Amaro and Walden to navigate the many pitfalls such a scenario poses by giving the new CEO and chief creative officer roles that are distinct and complementary.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Jennifer Esposito is opening up about the pitfalls of self-financing an indie movie.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Why beginners often overspend on gold When just starting, several pitfalls can cause investors to overspend on gold.
—Nick Perry, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
On paper, at least, Disney has set up D’Amaro and Walden to navigate the many pitfalls such a scenario poses by giving the new CEO and chief creative officer roles that are distinct and complementary.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Jennifer Esposito is opening up about the pitfalls of self-financing an indie movie.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfall
Noun
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However, adults 65 years and older and children younger than two are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu.—
Koko Nakajima,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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There haven’t been any similar incidents recently, Azarcon said, but the Police Department wanted to draw attention to potential risks as graduation season nears.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Trump later dropped that threat.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Trump has been outspoken about his plans to acquire Greenland, citing national security threats from Russia and China.—
Sarah Davis,
The Hill,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The only hitch was that these units were equipped with residential-sized kitchens, meaning limited counter space and small refrigerators and freezers.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
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After months of premature right-wing panic about a performance full of anti-American messaging, the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show went off without a hitch, making its critics seem desperate for a divisive news cycle that wasn’t really in the cards.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Whether your location will experience a partial solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse, the dangers are the same.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of this or any avalanche center.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Early voting in DuPage County first opened on Tuesday of last week, after a delay caused by another snag.—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Reese Atwood with a nice snag at first.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfall. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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