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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pitfall
Economists have warned against falling into the same pitfall as the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930, when Congress slapped tariffs on all countries that shipped goods to America in an effort to shield US workers.
—
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
More: What is generative AI? Benefits, pitfalls and how to use it in your day-to-day.
—Laila Kearney, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Photo: Courtesy of the Woolmark Prize Marc Jacobs and Dries Van Noten alum Meryll Rogge delivered a compelling case for herself during a presentation that spelled out both the pitfalls and promise of building an independent brand.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
One way to avoid this pitfall is to set the story thousands of miles away, far from the homeland, in one of the many Iranian diaspora communities that flourish worldwide.
—Porochista Khakpour, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
More: What is generative AI? Benefits, pitfalls and how to use it in your day-to-day.
—Laila Kearney, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Photo: Courtesy of the Woolmark Prize Marc Jacobs and Dries Van Noten alum Meryll Rogge delivered a compelling case for herself during a presentation that spelled out both the pitfalls and promise of building an independent brand.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
One way to avoid this pitfall is to set the story thousands of miles away, far from the homeland, in one of the many Iranian diaspora communities that flourish worldwide.
—Porochista Khakpour, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfall
Noun
-
Rain could aid firefighting efforts and saturate dry fuels, reducing their risk of igniting in the future.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Here are suggestions for staying safe during a thunderstorm: To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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For the moment, this means the U.S. Department of Education cannot make good on its threat to punish noncompliant districts by withholding vital federal funding, including dollars that help K-12 schools serve low-income students and children with disabilities.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2025
-
The threat of a trade war sparked by President Trump’s tariffs has played a role in the state’s license plate quandary.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The proposal goes off without a hitch as the two boys watch on.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Her feed cut out a few times during the song's first verse, then continued without a hitch through the chorus.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Emery introduced two attackers, Watkins and Malen, in the 66th minute, yet there was little danger that Rogers would be one of those to make way.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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This behavior mimics their wild ancestors, who would ambush prey from above or perch in trees to avoid danger.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Repair kits are a simple way to patch snags and rips, but replacing a screen can be a better long-term solution.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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The big picture: The council's vote threw a last-minute snag into a plan, years in the making, to centrally organize St. Paul's garbage collection, with a single hauler handling most of the work.—
Kyle Stokes,
Axios,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfall. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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