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
Relevance
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
Know More Other Republicans are contemplating going their own way to push for ballroom funding, which has its own pitfalls.
—
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
While their experience shows the pitfalls of fighting against an unprecedented legal effort, this is also a story about the lengths a couple will go to fight for their love.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Then there are the strategic pitfalls posed by the way immigration court works, like the fact that a person only gets one bond hearing.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Here, Southern professional organizers speak to nine of these pitfalls and explain what to do instead in order to successfully contain the clutter.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
To help steer you clear of any paint color problems (whether foreseen or unforeseen), designers share the top paint color pitfalls.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
There are pitfalls in his return.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Too often in technology, great products remain trapped in unfinished states—pitfalls Cook avoided with aplomb.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Common Mistakes When Growing Peppers Indoors To ensure your pepper plants thrive indoors, keep these common pitfalls at top of mind.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 20 Apr. 2026
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
While their experience shows the pitfalls of fighting against an unprecedented legal effort, this is also a story about the lengths a couple will go to fight for their love.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Then there are the strategic pitfalls posed by the way immigration court works, like the fact that a person only gets one bond hearing.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Here, Southern professional organizers speak to nine of these pitfalls and explain what to do instead in order to successfully contain the clutter.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
To help steer you clear of any paint color problems (whether foreseen or unforeseen), designers share the top paint color pitfalls.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
There are pitfalls in his return.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Too often in technology, great products remain trapped in unfinished states—pitfalls Cook avoided with aplomb.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Common Mistakes When Growing Peppers Indoors To ensure your pepper plants thrive indoors, keep these common pitfalls at top of mind.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfalls
Noun
-
Experts like Hofflinger question whether local building standards are sufficient or thoroughly enforced enough to prevent fire risks.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Studies have linked prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation from radioactive fallout to elevated risks of disease, most notably leukemia and thyroid cancer, particularly among children.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some of the bettors, who’d put money against such a missile reaching Israel on March 10, even made death threats against him.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the push to develop local mineral value chains has taken the tone of negotiating higher equity stakes in mining projects for the government, accompanied by threats of seizures and hostile takeovers.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But her journey hasn’t been without a few hitches.—
Aaron Tolentino,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The draft horse shows this week during the stock show’s 120th anniversary will include 15 six-horse hitches, or six horses pulling a wagon.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The crisis dominated headlines for months, reinforcing warnings about the dangers of vaping, particularly among young people.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But others, like Chief Justice John Roberts, wondered what would happen if the federal government moved more slowly than states did, who wanted to act quickly on information about new dangers.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Your intense focus can turn initial success into lasting momentum, while positive self-talk prevents burnout if any snags slow the pace.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But in typical Netflix-binge-method fashion, the episode’s closing sequence obliterates any narrative snags by shocking us with a cliffhanger.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Four years ago, the EU received a crash course in the perils of foreign fossil fuel dependence.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
King Charles has been vocal about sustainability and the perils and consequences of climate change for decades.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pitfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfalls. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
