booby-trap 1 of 2

verb

Definition of booby-trapnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
In the original Home Alone, Kevin is forced to defend him home from two bumbling burglars by setting various booby traps around the house. — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for booby-trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booby-trap
  1. attack
  2. mine
  3. hitch
  4. bomb
  5. land mine
  6. trap
  7. risk
  8. snag
Verb
  • According to court documents reviewed by The Times, the model alleges that Sandoval shoved her down a flight of stairs in his home, pushed her to the ground at a hotel in Nashville, and attacked her and her father on June 3.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Electing to keep his No 5 on the field, the Brazil head coach made a subtle tactical tweak that saw Endrick enter the action and brought Matheus Cunha further to the left flank — which unlocked the attacking prowess of Vinicius Junior.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Earlier this week Iran also pushed back against a statement from France’s President Emmanuel Macron that said France, Oman and others would collaborate on removing mines from the strait.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Passageways, a nonprofit that helps veterans in Kansas, is hosting a first-of-its-kind 12‑hour party for a small group of veterans at an underground salt mine museum.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of mine
Noun
  • Keystone Walkabout 26Max Trailer This hitch-up-and-pull-behind trailer is for those who do everything but sit in camp.
    — Kris Millgate, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • But once again, the party went without a hitch.
    — Erika Stanish, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of hitch
Verb
  • The two of them teamed up to bomb Iran in a war that, by all accounts, has been a dismal failure.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026
  • Multiple explosions shook central Kyiv and reverberated across the capital throughout the night as thousands of residents rushed to bomb shelters and underground metro stations.
    — Gleb Garanich, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of bomb
Noun
  • One image showing land mines was widely republished by Thai media outlets and bolstered Thailand's claims that Cambodia had laid new mines along the border that wounded patrolling Thai soldiers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of land mine
Verb
  • Residents also joined the search, using shovels and their bare hands to remove rubble in an effort to reach children trapped beneath the debris.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • The child, identified by authorities as Klieber Moran, was rescued after spending six days trapped beneath the rubble, Rodríguez said.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of trap
Noun
  • Traditional studios might adopt Chinese models for some preproduction tasks such as concepting, but the geopolitical and intellectual property risks for commercial generations are too prohibitive.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Now in its 18th year, The Zac Foundation has provided free water safety camps to more than 25,000 kids in at-risk communities.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • His administration has hit numerous snags in court, with judges reaffirming that the Constitution gives states — not the federal government — authority over elections.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Gurman claims the foldable is still on track to arrive later this year, despite chatter about manufacturing snags.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of snag

Browse Nearby Words

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booby-trap
booby trap
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Cite this Entry

“Booby-trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booby-trap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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