booby-trap 1 of 2

as in to attack
to place hidden explosive devices in or under booby-trapped the field bordering the army's camp

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booby trap

2 of 2

noun

1
as in mine
a usually concealed explosive device designed to go off when disturbed luckily, the bomb squad didn't find any booby traps

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2
as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized he noticed the booby trap in the interviewer's question just a little too late

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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 booby-trap
Noun
The Department of Transportation tried to keep the process relatively frictionless, but the city council introduced a potential booby trap. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 21 Aug. 2024 Wary of booby traps and with evening closing in, the troops did not enter the building until the next day. James MacKenzie, Reuters, 18 Oct. 2024 Unfortunately, though, one open window negates all the padlocks, bolts, and booby traps money can buy. Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2019 The characters must navigate different booby traps and escape from one cube into another. EW.com, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for booby-trap 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
Verb
  • On Wednesday, gunmen attacked a checkpoint near Jableh, killing two members of the new government’s security force.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
  • The Chargers have the space to potentially attack the top of the market at this position.
    Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • When one of them, Lena Corbyn (59), inherits a third of a British-Swiss mining empire, the friends join forces to revolutionise Corbyn Commodities by closing a harmful coal mine in South Africa and granting employees shares of the family business.
    Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Burgum also pledged to work with Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines to advance pending coal mine expansion permits in the lawmaker’s state.
    Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Instead, he’s accomplished the miraculous feat of returning from a 1,006-day absence with barely a hitch in his step.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
  • And though for the majority of brides and grooms, their special day goes off with hardly a hitch, every so often, a true disaster happens that ensures the event is memorable ...
    Alex Apatoff, People.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • For example, the Israeli military bombed the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius—Gaza's oldest church, consecrated in 1150—in October 2023.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Meaning Israel is even allowed to bomb Iran directly, something that American Presidents have consistently refused to green-light.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The Biden administration’s decision to send antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine in November 2024 was another case of the United States disregarding supposedly universal norms.
    Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Jubair was taught how to pull the pin of a grenade and to assemble a land mine.
    Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Vehicles trapped in mud Four vehicles were trapped in mud along Mulholland Drive, around the 4100 block of Alhama Drive in Woodland Hills, Sunday evening.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
  • By trapping itself within the Paris framework, the U.S. was playing along with Chinese ambitions, positioning itself to squander America’s natural energy advantage, and inflicting terrible harm on its auto sector.
    The Editors, National Review, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • But now Altadena, an unincorporated area that was his responsibility, was at risk.
    Jonathan Wolfe, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Assess your risk The importance of all this advice depends on a person’s health and their exposure to poor quality air.
    Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Barring a last-minute snag, the #Lions OC lands with an NFC North rival.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Listen to this article TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office had said earlier there were last minute snags in finalizing a ceasefire that would pause 15 months of war.
    Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

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