PITFALLS Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

pitfalls

noun

plural of pitfall

as in risks

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

Relevance

as in threats

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

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 pitfalls The Importance of Trust While such alternative off-market business acquisition marketplaces certainly have their fair share of potential benefits, their use also comes with potential pitfalls. — William Jones, USA Today, 20 July 2026 However, the article warns against potential pitfalls, drawing parallels to Southwest's seating issues. — Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Nick and Charlie have been at the center of the show’s love story, going through the heights and pitfalls of young love over three seasons. — Barry Levitt, Time, 17 July 2026 The bulk of the show, though, deals with the pitfalls of technology, modern consumer culture, and the modern media landscape, certainly realms more than familiar to science fiction. — William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026 Unger, the bestselling author of 24 novels, wanted to center her new gothic thriller on the pitfalls of tech. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026 The tension between the various competing interests is handled with nuance and without taking sides, all while showing both the pitfalls and the wondrous potential of this annual spectacle. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 The nightcap for this dance party of an album takes an honest look at the unforeseen pitfalls and points where success was not a certainty. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 July 2026 Here’s what all three dietitians identified as pitfalls of the plan. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfalls

Noun

Read more about the risks of the expanding US-Iran conflict here.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
For most healthy adults, consuming modest amounts of poppy seeds regularly is generally considered safe, but consider the risks.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2026

Definition of risks

Noun

Living in Alpine, Anderson has had to evacuate his home because of wildfire threats, and noted that CalFire, the county and the community learned from the fires and are much better prepared now than in the past.

— Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
Starmer’s finance minister, Rachel Reeves, was ousted, replaced by John Healey, a former defense secretary who resigned in June and accused the Treasury of failing to spend enough on the military at a time of rising threats.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026

Definition of threats

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

And now Iran has shown US troops face those same dangers around the region – with deadly consequences.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
By demonstrating a clear desire to identify and remediate potential dangers, providers can build trust with their customers and establish greater credibility in the market.

— Peter Garraghan, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of dangers

Noun

In Simulacra and Simulation, Jean Baudrillard famously explored the perils of living in a world of holograms.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
As our planet revels in the recent achievements of this spring’s Artemis 2 mission and its four astronaut crew members, a new four-part PBS documentary series takes a scrutinizing look at space exploration and its inherent perils and promises.

— Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of perils

Browse Nearby Words

pitfall

pitfalls

pith

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pitfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfalls. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pitfalls

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on pitfalls

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

itinerant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes