1
as in risk
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
buying a house can be full of pitfalls for the unwary
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm
one of the pitfalls of ignorance is that people will also assume you're stupid
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pitfall
The second pitfall would be to imitate U.S. policy in recent decades, and spend vast sums on limited numbers of high-tech weapons platforms like fighter aircraft, battle tanks, and warships.
—
Anatol Lieven, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
An expert told Newsweek why that trend may be occurring and warned of the pitfalls of not disconnecting.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
What are the pitfalls of producing and financing genre films?
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
Medicare coverage could be another pitfall for seniors whose benefit checks are subject to the 100% clawback, experts said.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Anatol Lieven, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
An expert told Newsweek why that trend may be occurring and warned of the pitfalls of not disconnecting.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
What are the pitfalls of producing and financing genre films?
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
Medicare coverage could be another pitfall for seniors whose benefit checks are subject to the 100% clawback, experts said.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfall
Noun
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Regardless of the veracity of the cable-cutter reports, Chinese technological advances that can be used for military purposes pose inherent risks.—
Jill Goldenziel,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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Participants’ risk of insomnia went up by 59% for each additional hour of screen time in bed, too.2 Is One Screen Activity Worse For Your Sleep Than Others?—
Simon Spichak,
Health,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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By tightening demonstration policies, university administrators contributed to a discourse that has framed the pro-Palestinian protest as an existential threat to the well-being and safety of society at large and have, in effect, played into the hands of the current administration.—
Bastiaan Vanacker,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
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Big Tech companies – including Google, Meta and X – have used their economic and political influence to lobby against tighter regulation, often framing such policies as a threat to free expression.—
Camille Grenier,
The Conversation,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Melissa Rivers reflects on losing her home in LA wildfires Luckily, the ceremony went on without a hitch Saturday, with the pair exchanging vows in front of 150 guests, People reports.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
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Comments Gal Gadot's star ceremony, her induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, did not go off without a hitch.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Gusty winds and dry conditions continue to fuel an elevated fire danger across parts of the country on Sunday.—
Daniel Peck,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2025
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Over the years, as more and more sun tea recipes have popped up across the Internet, so have warnings about its potential danger.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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After that, everything basically fell into place, apart from one big snag: The rear fan was too close to the motherboard tray to slide our motherboard over the case’s standoffs without scraping; the I/O connectors' top cover got in the way.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
2 Mar. 2025
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Barring those snags, at this price, the Razr 2024 is a good way to test the folding-phone waters without breaking the bank.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfall. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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