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
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But the culture does prime young men to align themselves emotionally with sports and then offer them the trapdoor of an opportunity to return on that investment.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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When its minuscule trigger hairs are touched, the trapdoor flips open, and the tiny victim is sucked in along with water in milliseconds before the door closes again.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sand & Stable Calhoun 4-Piece Sofa Seating Group With its gray, faux-wood frame and lattice designs, this set has a distinctly coastal feel.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
-
This occurs when mobile ions swap positions within the lattice.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Since 2024, the production has tapped a revolving door of actors across genders and ethnicities to play consequential American icons, with stars including Jinkx Monsoon, Kumail Nanjiani, Tituss Burgess and Conrad Ricamora.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
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Maxey has been the one constant for a roster that’s had to deal with a revolving door of players in and out of the lineup.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
England appeared rattled in the field both by Brook’s lapse and the atmosphere produced by a raucous home crowd, none more so than Jofra Archer, the unfortunate bowler who was denied Samson’s early wicket.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The lone wicket was taken by spin bowling allrounder Roston Chase, who was drafted into the playing XI in place of spinner Akeal Hosein.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portcullis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portcullis. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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