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
From guns to booby traps, Dutch leads the charge to take down the gnarly, terrifying looking alien. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 28 Nov. 2024 In the desert, the Stranger and Nori have become aware they’re being followed and set about constructing a booby trap and maybe killing their stalker. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
Verb
  • Despite losing all three, there were significant improvements collectively and individually, with contributions from attacking starlets Nico Paz, who scored against Atalanta, and Diao, who got the equaliser against Juventus.
    David Ferrini, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The case, which generated headlines around the world, comes amid rising hostility against Muslims and Palestinians in the U.S. since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.
    Sophia Tareen and Melissa Perez Winder, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • After the Royal Navy dotted the English Channel with mines and declared the whole North Sea a war zone in November 1914, Germany responded with a U-boat blockade of Britain.
    Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
  • The underground data center, located in a former limestone mine, stores 200 acres of physical data for many clients including the federal government.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Models congregated outside in the smoking area, naturally, while the Burberry PR team could be spotted clinking glasses to celebrate their blockbuster show going off without a hitch.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
  • During showtime, the skit went off without a hitch, with Segel giving the iconic towel surprise before walking off-camera.
    Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • To hear Trump tell it, Ukraine might as well be bombing its own cities and killing its own citizens.
    Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Biden briefly paused a shipment of bombs to Israel over concerns that they would be used on an area where refugees were told to flee, only to resume military aid after Israel bombed the area.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The Louisiana Republican, who served as vice chair of the House GOP conference, has traversed a number of land mines since receiving the gavel, including votes to send aid to Ukraine, reauthorize the U.S.’s warrantless spying powers, and fund the government.
    Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025
  • On Wednesday, the U.S. announced a 70th, $275 million military aid package would be sent to Ukraine, including a large supply of land mines.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Major American investors, including Trump allies, are involved with companies prospecting nickel, iron and rare earth elements, even though much of it is trapped far under frozen ground or ice (in some parts of Greenland, the ice is two miles thick).
    Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Many states have regulations or laws about trapping and releasing feral swine, for example, in order to help reduce the spread.
    Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Then, when the risk of frost is over, seedlings can be planted in pots or on the ground outdoors.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Suffice to say, if Chrome warns you a download might be dangerous, do not take the risk.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Making your favorite sweaters, sweatshirts, and coats look brand new again is possible with a fabric shaver that wipes away snags in seconds.
    Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The team’s historic start hit a major snag as injuries ravaged the program and forced the Horned Frogs to forfeit two Big 12 games.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 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 3 Mar. 2025.

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