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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of booby-trap
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2026
Deputies said during the initial call that neighbors had reported gunshots being fired and that a second caller, who claimed to have fired the gun, had placed booby traps around a home in the Kavala Ranch development.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Verb
So what is a modernist like Mayer, who made such cool craft of ancient stuff 20 years ago with Spring Awakening, to do with something as hokey and booby-trapped as Chess?
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
Their 2025-26 season has been littered with injury landmines and other booby traps hidden in the walls of Ball Arena.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2026
Deputies said during the initial call that neighbors had reported gunshots being fired and that a second caller, who claimed to have fired the gun, had placed booby traps around a home in the Kavala Ranch development.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
Verb
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Vance, asked by a reporter about the criticism from the Israeli government, singled out Israeli Cabinet officials who have attacked the deal, saying Netanyahu has not shared the same opposition in the vice president's conversations with him.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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After the good Samaritan got him off the woman, witnesses say the man wandered to produce and began attacking a 16-year-old boy, but Garbe had followed him.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Georgia’s Golden Isles are a favorite vacation destination of mine, and a big reason for that is the area’s historic gems like Sea Island.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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The threat of mines in Hormuz remains a major concern, Larsen said.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
15 June 2026
Noun
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The automaker’s overhauled its entire operations from service to production to get R2 off the ground and into the mass-market arena without a hitch, according to the automaker’s CEO.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
10 June 2026
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Troopers say remember three things before hitting the road with a trailer or hitch.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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It was used in bombing missions during the current conflict between the US and Iran.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Additionally, Russia has ramped up attacks on civilian centers usually considered off-limits in wartime, such as a 1,000-year-old cathedral and monastery complex in Kyiv that was bombed Sunday night, killing three people.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
Noun
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The younger Modrić’s childhood home in the village of Jasenice was abandoned and remains so to this day, with signs warning visitors of land mines in the area.—
Sanat Pai Raikar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 June 2026
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The zombie commission was one of the final land mines Adams left behind for his successor.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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It is believed he may have been trapped in that same spot for nearly 24 hours until a passerby was finally able to hear his calls for help, West Metro Fire Rescue said.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
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Police and fire officials said the men were on the reef when the incoming tide quickly surrounded them and left them trapped with rising water and no safe way back to shore.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2026
Noun
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The letter warns that those credits are now at risk of expiring, and argues that they should be made refundable or transferable.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
19 June 2026
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His attorneys said his blood sugar levels were only checked once a month in the jail, putting him at risk of organ failure or even death.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Ionic technology helps regulate heat and flatten thick hair types while eliminating frizz, and the ceramic plates deliver a shiny, snag-free finish that's especially useful for thick hair prone to tangles.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
18 June 2026
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Despite overall improvements across the district in both the high school EOC STAAR test and the 3-8 exams, Licata announced last week that more than a dozen schools experienced notable snags that would qualify them for the Elevate network.—
Samuel O’Neal and,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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