as in trapdoor
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Recent Examples of portcullis
The entrance to the car park even passes under a portcullis and guests’ bags go through an X-ray machine hidden in the rock-face.
—
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The prior owner went all out on building a Medieval-style castle, with a moat, a drawbridge and a portcullis.
—Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022
Medieval amenities include a moat, two watchtowers and two gates, a drawbridge, an underground cave (complete with a Jacuzzi!), trap doors, and a genuine portcullis (a metal-and-wood gate typically seen in medieval fortresses).
—Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, 20 Jan. 2022
Then Iraq’s new rulers lowered a paper portcullis, demanding fees and the completion of myriad forms.
—The Economist, 10 Apr. 2021
Pass beneath an imposing portcullis into Edinburgh Castle, home to the National War Museum and the 12th-century St. Margaret’s Chapel—believed to be the oldest building in Edinburgh.
—National Geographic, 12 June 2019
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The prior owner went all out on building a Medieval-style castle, with a moat, a drawbridge and a portcullis.
—Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022
Medieval amenities include a moat, two watchtowers and two gates, a drawbridge, an underground cave (complete with a Jacuzzi!), trap doors, and a genuine portcullis (a metal-and-wood gate typically seen in medieval fortresses).
—Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, 20 Jan. 2022
Then Iraq’s new rulers lowered a paper portcullis, demanding fees and the completion of myriad forms.
—The Economist, 10 Apr. 2021
Pass beneath an imposing portcullis into Edinburgh Castle, home to the National War Museum and the 12th-century St. Margaret’s Chapel—believed to be the oldest building in Edinburgh.
—National Geographic, 12 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portcullis
Noun
-
Authorities found a kilo of fentanyl in a closet and 12 more kilos of narcotics under a trapdoor in the children's playroom.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Richarlison became a hero for Everton in the 2021-22 season, scoring six times in their final 10 matches to inspire what had for a while looked an unlikely escape from the trapdoor that leads to the Championship.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The most precise atomic clocks trap atoms in an optical lattice, a pattern of light and dark formed by intersecting lasers.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Before the Dallas skyline, rope access technicians Ian Porter and Kain McLuaghlin of Highpoint Access scale the lattice-shell structure to make tweaks to new LED lighting installed on Reunion Tower, March 19, 2026.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The creative decision also mirrors the experience of doctors, nurses and students within a teaching hospital, which often includes a revolving door of staff.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
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Since the series mirrors the experience of doctors, nurses, and students within a teaching hospital, a revolving door of staff is a natural occurrence.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Delhi raced to 164-4 and a six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare in reply to Mumbai's 162-6 and a first loss in the young season for the five-time champion.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Shaun Marsh and Adam Gilchrist (PBKS) put on 206 runs for the second wicket against RCB in 2011.—
Tushaar Kuthiala,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portcullis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portcullis. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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