land mine

noun

: a mine usually placed just below the surface of the ground and designed to be exploded usually by the weight of vehicles or troops passing over it
often used figuratively
Every aspect of this scheme is a potential land mine.Henry A. Kissinger
a political land mine

Examples of land mine in a Sentence

parents of teenagers never know when they might set off an emotional land mine
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
President Biden is also sending land mines to help Ukrainian forces slow Russia’s continuing advance in Ukraine’s east. Ian Bremmer, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025 The package, announced Monday by the State Department, also includes more of the anti-personnel land mines that Ukraine is counting on to slow Russian and North Korean ground forces in Russia’s Kursk region. Tara Copp and Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024 This package will include anti-tank weapons, artillery, drones, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and anti-personnel land mines to slow Russia's advances in the Kursk region, the official said. Greg Norman, Fox News, 2 Dec. 2024 The assistance includes counter-drone systems, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and antipersonnel land mines, according to U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to the Associated Press. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for land mine 

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of land mine was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near land mine

Cite this Entry

“Land mine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/land%20mine. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

land mine

noun
: a mine placed just below the surface of the ground and designed to be exploded by the weight of the vehicles or troops passing over it
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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