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

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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 Republicans have other potential pitfalls to navigate, including funding the government. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 Despite the potential pitfalls, many remain undeterred by DIY challenges. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025 Discover how to avoid common pitfalls, protect your assets, and safeguard your wishes. Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025 However, with all these benefits, there are a few pitfalls—most of which can be attributed to user error. Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025 All three major averages were able to skirt major pitfalls in October to end the month higher, bringing their year-to-date gains to double-digit advances. Sarah Min, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025 The issue is how to inject capital without falling prey to some of the pitfalls of aid dependency. Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025 To some extent, these pitfalls are unavoidable. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025 Obsidian Entertainment has done an admirable job avoiding those pitfalls in its work, and 2019’s The Outer Worlds is a great example. Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfalls
Noun
  • And the answer to the various risks and harms of AI is public control of AI objectives through democratic means.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • But with stocks trading at historically expensive levels, there are risks abound.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The ability for existing infrastructure, like long-range security cameras, to not only secure evidence of potential threats, but also define and categorize them is key to automating security operations.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Kleinstreuer, who subsequently received harassing messages and death threats online, has required security protection.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The two-door, three-person Can-Am Defender Limited and the four-door, six-person Defender Max Limited have 82-horsepower engines, power steering, tow hitches with a 2,500-pound towing capacity, winches, air conditioning and heating, a full hard roof and a three-position tilt-up glass windshield.
    Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
  • My connection often improved a few minutes later, but those drops could result in stuttering in games, hitches in streaming, and slow file downloads.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Of course, a good number of researchers and critics have warned of the dangers of using AI in these consequential domains.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Under the initiative, if there are concerns that a young person might be interacting with knives, the police will work with local services to discuss the dangers of knives with that young person.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Labor is limited, supply chains hit snags, investment waxes and wanes—meaning that even if these data centers are built at the tremendous scale desired by Altman and his competitors, construction and energy constraints may keep the boom from growing too irresponsibly.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The production designer also used her own old family photos to ensure there wouldn’t be any snags in copyright clearance and licensing.
    Mara Reinstein, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The most famous of these works, Doctor Faustus, is about the glories and perils of eccentric genius.
    Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Simmons’ protracted nonpayment also reflects the logistical perils and broader challenges for anyone navigating the legal process.
    Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pitfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfalls. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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