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
This unit is engineered to avoid those pitfalls.
—
Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 29 Sep. 2025
Not only are both movies about the pleasures and pitfalls of collaborative art-making; both also emerged from the labyrinth of Linklater’s own long-term creative relationships.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s debut at the United Nations this week was met with fascination, excitement and optimism, even as Syria’s road to fully joining the international community is fraught with pitfalls.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 25 Sep. 2025
Maze was also concerned about federal civil rights pitfalls that can come with doing immigration work, such as potential racial-profiling lawsuits.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
To become a popular creator is akin to striking it rich one day out of the blue, with all of the benefits but also all of the pitfalls.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 24 Sep. 2025
What pitfalls are there with AI therapy?
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
My go-to over the past two years, the Owala Freesip Insulated Water Bottle, has zero pitfalls in my eyes and somehow makes drinking water fun.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Recognizing these pitfalls early is what keeps a strong business moving forward.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 29 Sep. 2025
Not only are both movies about the pleasures and pitfalls of collaborative art-making; both also emerged from the labyrinth of Linklater’s own long-term creative relationships.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s debut at the United Nations this week was met with fascination, excitement and optimism, even as Syria’s road to fully joining the international community is fraught with pitfalls.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 25 Sep. 2025
Maze was also concerned about federal civil rights pitfalls that can come with doing immigration work, such as potential racial-profiling lawsuits.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
To become a popular creator is akin to striking it rich one day out of the blue, with all of the benefits but also all of the pitfalls.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 24 Sep. 2025
What pitfalls are there with AI therapy?
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
My go-to over the past two years, the Owala Freesip Insulated Water Bottle, has zero pitfalls in my eyes and somehow makes drinking water fun.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Recognizing these pitfalls early is what keeps a strong business moving forward.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfalls
Noun
-
Despite the risks, Democratic strategists like James Carville believe the party is better positioned politically, noting that Republicans control both the House and the Senate, as well as the White House.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Powell said a sharp cooldown of hiring over the summer had shifted the balance of risks toward greater concern over the labor market rather than inflation.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At least eight Salvadoran officials who had been investigating MS-13 and corruption, including some who had worked with Vulcan agents, fled the country after threats, harassment, and searches of their homes and offices.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
-
No bombs were found and police were investigating the threats.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 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
-
Her studies revealed lead’s dangers and protected workers, but government and industry ignored her warnings, with almost unimaginably devastating results.—
Tom Frieden,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
-
But Trump’s arbitrary brand of interventionism comes with obvious dangers.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Developers have yet to break ground, while people familiar with the matter in the UAE, Nairobi, and Washington catalog problems with the project, extending from grand geopolitics to quotidian financial snags.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
22 Sep. 2025
-
That could provide a backup plan if the state charges hit snags, said Cassell, echoing another famous Utah case.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Protect your property and possessions from fire, theft, and other unexpected perils.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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Public health experts have warned of the perils of falls for older people for decades.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pitfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfalls. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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