as in trapdoor
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Recent Examples of portcullis
The entrance to the car park even passes under a portcullis and guests’ bags go through an X-ray machine hidden in the rock-face.
—
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The prior owner went all out on building a Medieval-style castle, with a moat, a drawbridge and a portcullis.
—Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022
Medieval amenities include a moat, two watchtowers and two gates, a drawbridge, an underground cave (complete with a Jacuzzi!), trap doors, and a genuine portcullis (a metal-and-wood gate typically seen in medieval fortresses).
—Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, 20 Jan. 2022
Then Iraq’s new rulers lowered a paper portcullis, demanding fees and the completion of myriad forms.
—The Economist, 10 Apr. 2021
Pass beneath an imposing portcullis into Edinburgh Castle, home to the National War Museum and the 12th-century St. Margaret’s Chapel—believed to be the oldest building in Edinburgh.
—National Geographic, 12 June 2019
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The prior owner went all out on building a Medieval-style castle, with a moat, a drawbridge and a portcullis.
—Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022
Medieval amenities include a moat, two watchtowers and two gates, a drawbridge, an underground cave (complete with a Jacuzzi!), trap doors, and a genuine portcullis (a metal-and-wood gate typically seen in medieval fortresses).
—Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, 20 Jan. 2022
Then Iraq’s new rulers lowered a paper portcullis, demanding fees and the completion of myriad forms.
—The Economist, 10 Apr. 2021
Pass beneath an imposing portcullis into Edinburgh Castle, home to the National War Museum and the 12th-century St. Margaret’s Chapel—believed to be the oldest building in Edinburgh.
—National Geographic, 12 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portcullis
Noun
-
His stomach dropped as the trapdoor opened beneath him, plunging him into a void of air.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The gas would fill a box that was divided in two by a wall with a trapdoor.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Creating barriers with plants, lattices, and fences can shield your unit from debris without interfering with its operation or putting it at risk of damage.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
-
To tackle this problem, the study authors focused on materials with a kagome lattice, a geometric arrangement of atoms resembling a pattern of interlocking triangles.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The 4-5 spots were a revolving door last year, but between the addition of Johan Oviedo, the return of Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford from injury and up-and-coming youngsters like Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, the staff should be in a great spot.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Anybody who feels sceptical about Chelsea’s overall strategy — the voracious appetite for signing emerging talent, creating a revolving door at Stamford Bridge — is unlikely to take it as read that 41-year-old Rosenior is the man for the job.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An injury to Jordan Cox, who had been due to keep wicket, saw a reshuffle and a decision that shocked everyone.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Before her five-wicket haul, Sharma (58) posted her third half-century of the tournament to help India reached the second highest total in a World Cup final after Australia’s 356-5 against England in 2022.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portcullis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portcullis. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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