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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
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
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The result is that real patients experience complications in real-time, without knowing risks that may have been uncovered in a clinical trial.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
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While most health experts agree that these foods are fine as a once-in-a-while treat, a growing body of evidence links regular consumption of UPFs to health risks and chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Unfortunately, Packers quarterback Jordan Love will go into the game without one of his top receiving threats, who came into the game with a questionable tag.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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Tinubu’s response to Trump’s threats must now be for Nigeria’s security and armed forces to demonstrably establish complete and total control of its territory.—
Kingsley Moghalu,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Many have had the wheels or hitches removed years ago.—
Cassie Powell,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
-
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
Noun
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Despite the deathly dangers of fentanyl contamination, hard drug use has been enjoying record increases in Hollywood and beyond not seen since the hard-partying ’80s.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
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Against the Machine is more than a warning about the dangers of technology.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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The latest consumer boycott shows the perils corporations face when drawn into contentious culture-war issues in a volatile and polarized political environment.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
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Protect your property and possessions from fire, theft, and other unexpected perils.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pitfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfalls. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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