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
-
Authorities found a kilo of fentanyl in a closet and 12 more kilos of narcotics under a trapdoor in the children's playroom.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Richarlison became a hero for Everton in the 2021-22 season, scoring six times in their final 10 matches to inspire what had for a while looked an unlikely escape from the trapdoor that leads to the Championship.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Its apparently smooth screen quickly dissolves into a jiggling lattice of molecules, which in turn resolve into clouds of electrons buzzing around atomic nuclei.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Tonight, the spider will continue its lattice; tonight, the crystals will sprout spines, shredding my soft tissues.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Shelter should be a short-term bridge to housing, not a revolving door.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
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
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
-
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 17 Mar. 2026.
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