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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
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
The gauntlet of booby traps culminating in the giant boulder that kick off Raiders is my single favorite opening sequence in a movie ever. — Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026 Picture Indiana Jones swapping his fedora for a Han dynasty helmet, dodging booby traps in dusty Chinese tombs. — Urnesha Bhattacherjee, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 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
  • Egypt's president sought to reassure the public that the country wouldn't attack Yemen, and that the military support is limited to defending Saudi territory.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Back in 2023, Stevens revealed he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves—and was working to relearn how to walk and use his hands.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Bits are born in mines, factories, data centers, undersea cables, power grids, and human hands.
    — Amelia Rose Barlow, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Climbing a quarry mine in the dark Though they’re called Night Climbs, the October evening events begin around sunset as the days get shorter ahead of the winter solstice.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of mine
Noun
  • Beil says the two are talking to Hatch about hosting the show there long-term, but there is one hitch.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Taking a quick step back, Madsen found freshman receiver Rasean Jones on a quick hitch down the left sideline — and enough for the first down.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hitch
Verb
  • The Israelis bombed the cemetery where her friends were buried, leaving body parts and bones scattered for relatives to collect like a puzzle.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But shipments have since collapsed in the eight months since Iran bombed its key production facility at Ras Laffan.
    — Spencer Kimball,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of bomb
Noun
  • The pledge follows land mine blasts that injured three South Korean soldiers; Seoul says North Korea planted the mines, while Pyongyang denies responsibility and threatens retaliation.
    — Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Without the explosives, a land mine is just so much tin, so why not forget about the casing and go straight for the explosive?
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of land mine
Verb
  • This year, heavensouls dropped westside trapped, a showcase of plundersymphonic finesse and a tribute to Nigerian beats.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The 18-story building collapsed Friday in a busy commercial street of the capital Nairobi, trapping construction workers and people reportedly inside shops on the ground and basement floors that had been illegally occupied.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of trap
Noun
  • The spread over Germany's 10-year Bunds peaked at more than 177 basis points a day later, amid concerns about spillover risks elsewhere in Europe.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The album’s greatest risk is that its devotion becomes indistinguishable from its own self-importance.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • Pinch-runner Cedric Mullins replaced Caminero before DeLuca, who had made sparkling catches to deny Yelich in the third and William Contreras in the fourth, hit a grounder past the mound as Drohan tried in vain to make a behind-the-back snag.
    — Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • New Denim had a tighter weave to resist snags and tears and was stronger and more durable than other denim, yet still pliable and comfortable.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of snag

Browse Nearby Words

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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 29 Oct. 2026.

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