pitfalls

plural of pitfall
1
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

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2
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 Some founders on the second go-around choose to self-fund and avoid the pitfalls of venture capital. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 23 June 2026 Other Décor Mistakes While designers agree that a catalog-style room is one of the biggest decorating pitfalls, there are a few other details that can have a similar effect. Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 20 June 2026 Plenty of potential pitfalls remain ahead, including opposition from the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. Teresa M. Walker, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 Here, the leading experts from Forbes Finance Council discuss other pitfalls to avoid. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 There are still pitfalls to overcome, and the show risks becoming a victim of its own success, especially in terms of casting. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 June 2026 How is this grant money helping to combat some of those modern pitfalls? Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 16 June 2026 The pitfalls and danger of change. Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026 Other Tomato-Growing Mistakes There are several other pitfalls that can cost you your tomato yield. Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfalls
Noun
  • Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters Global stock markets have been volatile as investors continue to assess geopolitical risks in the Middle East, fundamentals and valuations of companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) market and key economic data.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 28 June 2026
  • Peace under these conditions is little more than a postponement of hostilities, and the risks of appeasement are always high.
    Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • Two weeks ago, Lutnick invoked export control authorities to require Anthropic to shut off access to its two most capable systems, Mythos 5 and Fable 5, citing threats to national security.
    Jared Perlo, NBC news, 27 June 2026
  • The conflict over the past few months has increased war risk insurance costs for both maritime and aviation sectors, with insurers reassessing exposure due to missile threats, airspace closure, and other disruptions.
    Tiago Ventura, Time, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Legal glitches and hitches will eventually be found when AI laws are passed without suitable scrutiny and analysis.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • Many experts have cautioned against the dangers of over-intervening during delivery; at the same time, the availability of clinical care, when properly deployed, has clearly saved countless lives.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 29 June 2026
  • Wildfire experts have been warning for months that extreme fire dangers are likely this summer.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • The federal government’s relationship with Anthropic, one of the major US AI companies, has hit other snags, as well.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
  • The material hasn’t suffered any rips or snags, and the dust and dirt it’s collected is easy to wash off.
    Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • The potential perils of this were apparent in Delaware, where a Caesar Rodney impersonator was manning the booth (the Caesar Rodney Institute was the sponsor).
    Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
  • Therefore, the article cautions against the perils of overpaying for certainty, advocating for a discerning approach to avoid crowded trades.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pitfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfalls. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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