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

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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

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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 However, industry leaders caution against haphazard AI adoption, emphasizing that strategic, disciplined implementation is crucial to avoid significant financial pitfalls. — Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Congress is debating the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence as products like ChatGPT raise questions about the future of creative industries and the ability to tell fact from fiction. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026 The aim has been to make clear the limitations and pitfalls of the available military options, including those that do not involve putting US boots on the ground, the sources said. — Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026 Closer to home, Liverpool have shown the pitfalls of an expensive facelift, splurging record sums on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak last summer only to free-fall from champions to a meek fifth-place finish. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026 Deploying technology has pitfalls, and Chicago has a fresh reminder of the dangers. — Tom Dowling, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 No-Fail Chocolate Frosting This smooth, creamy, chocolate frosting is easy to make, with none of the potential pitfalls of fussy European buttercreams. — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 The courts blocked the policy a year later, but these pitfalls would prove hard for other states to overcome. — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 30 July 2026 Below, experts share the advantages of using yogurt in your garden, along with practical application tips and common pitfalls to avoid. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfalls

Noun

Some of that is unrelated to de-dollarization, such as concerns about fiscal, inflation and geopolitical risks.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
Senator Amy Klobuchar supported the delay, citing job protection, while Senator Ted Budd opposed it, warning of consumer risks.

— A.J. Herrington, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of risks

Noun

Automated systems now make decisions and respond to threats at increasingly high speeds.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Despite threats of a blockade of the Red Sea’s Bab-al-Mandeb strait from Iran’s Houthi allies, ship traffic has been flowing at a close-to-normal clip through that waterway in recent weeks.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 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

While cybersecurity experts and leaked documents have long exposed the dangers of hostile SIM cards, these risks remain largely unmitigated because SIMs are rarely factored into standard security threat models.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Swimming in the Seine was officially banned in 1923 amid pollution and the dangers of river traffic.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of dangers

Noun

As Rhaenyra slowly descends into a pit of despair and desperation, Daemon and his armies run into some snags on their assault of Tumbleton thanks to the various tricks Lord Ormund has up his sleeves.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Despite my pup’s best attempts, there have been no snags or stains.

— Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of snags

Noun

The rare, firsthand accounts show the perils faced by tens of thousands of children believed to have been conscripted into the war by all sides.

— Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Such is the case here, with Glenn Howerton delivering a masterclass on the perils of our increasingly tech-dependent world.

— Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026

Definition of perils

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pitfall

pitfalls

pith

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“Pitfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfalls. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of pitfalls

noun

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