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
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
What about building a new one after the sale is done — are there any common pitfalls to avoid?
—Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 6 Oct. 2025
Ben Stiller and his wife Christine Taylor also frequently worked together, though with slightly fewer pitfalls; Taylor’s voice, it should be said, brings high levels of consideration and insight in a film not lacking for either quality.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
There are some other potential pitfalls, too.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
What about building a new one after the sale is done — are there any common pitfalls to avoid?
—Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 6 Oct. 2025
Ben Stiller and his wife Christine Taylor also frequently worked together, though with slightly fewer pitfalls; Taylor’s voice, it should be said, brings high levels of consideration and insight in a film not lacking for either quality.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
There are some other potential pitfalls, too.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfall
Noun
-
How do soldiers assess risk or make life-or-death decisions?—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
-
New research found missing a first mammogram was linked to a higher risk of breast cancer death.—
Julia Landwehr,
Health,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Increment 4 program, which aims to equip smaller, faster vehicles with scalable turrets capable of tackling a range of threats.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Even with fewer boaters on the water, the threat of aquatic nuisance species infiltrating your favorite lake remains.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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Alubidy grabbed a trailer tow hitch and bludgeoned the 5-foot-tall, 130-pound victim.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Greg Knapp Memorial Fund raises money to save lives through education and advocacy on the dangers of distracted driving.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Over the course of a conversation that spanned more than a million words and 300 hours, the bot encouraged Brooks to adopt grandiose beliefs, validated his delusions, and led him to believe the technological infrastructure that underpins the world was in imminent danger.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Morrell, a former BP exec who was appointed by former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, departed after a series of snags that ultimately doomed Chapek’s tenure as CEO.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
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It’s also completely sold out on the Madewell website, so this is a rare snag.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfall. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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