as in trapdoor
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Recent Examples of portcullis
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
The front door is often guarded with a metal portcullis.
—Ruth Bloomfield, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2017
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
The front door is often guarded with a metal portcullis.
—Ruth Bloomfield, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portcullis
Noun
-
But instead of using chemicals, public key cryptography uses mathematical puzzles called trapdoor functions.—
John Pavlus,
WIRED,
15 Dec. 2024
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Or maybe the professor failed to notice trapdoors in the locked boxes, and the student had an accomplice behind the scenes who was hastily solving problems and slipping the solutions into the right boxes before they got opened.—
Erica Klarreich,
Quanta Magazine,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Swathed in green and white lattice print wallpaper—for sale!—you’ll find a range of fabrics and cushions (stripes, plaids, florals), table lamps, faux florals, and more that capture the signature look of the hotel.—
Monika Biegler Eyers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 July 2025
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Some vertical turbines will use simple, highly durable lattice towers, especially in hurricane-prone areas.—
Llewellyn King,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
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But every time this franchise doesn’t win the Cup, the revolving door at that spot since Nazem Kadri becomes an obvious talking point.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
15 May 2025
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At the same time, the revolving door between activist nonprofits and government agencies is raising serious ethical and legal questions.—
Dan Eberhart,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Noun
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The second game on July 22 was another New Zealand win, this time by seven wickets with Tim Seifert as the player of the match.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
-
There is no avoiding this summer’s clip of Longstaff taking a wicket when bowling for Tynemouth Cricket Club.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portcullis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portcullis. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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