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

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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

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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 pitfall The authors also point out common pitfalls on the way to purpose and offer suggestions for how to create and sustain initiatives that deeply align with an organization’s core values. Christopher P. Blocker, joseph P. Cannon, jonathan Z. Zhang, Harvard Business Review, 6 Feb. 2025 Whereas Capcom’s action RPG is archaically and annoyingly old school, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 avoids similar pitfalls by including an easily accessible fast travel system. George Yang, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025 However, the agreement is fragile and fraught with pitfalls. Ian Pannell, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2025 Any profession requiring judgment and specialized knowledge can fall prey to the pitfalls of cognitive offloading, as a recent study demonstrates. Lars Daniel, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitfall
Noun
  • Sean Hecht, managing attorney for the California regional office of Earthjustice, a nonprofit focused on litigating environmental issues, believes the state’s youngest monuments are most at risk of being rolled back, citing political reasons.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
  • What is relentlessly missing in the ongoing coverage of America’s pain through job losses and now the inflationary impact of tariffs is the relentless and real reality that the fiscal situation of America is at serious risk of falling off a cliff.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The swirling snows that plagued Montana in last week’s 1923 have cleared by the time Episode 3 gets underway, but that doesn’t mean that the threat has passed for the Duttons and their extended circle.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 9 Mar. 2025
  • One cause for concern, though: The Fed still isn’t done bringing inflation to target, and the threat of a global trade war sparked by the Trump administration could jack up consumer prices further.
    Bryan Mena, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • A little more than four hours in the air without a hitch.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The Ritz-Carlton spans 144 acres of property and went through its own massive renovation in 2021 ensuring that fan favorite events from poolside parties to the Grand Finale Dinner at Michelin starred Blue by Eric Ripert and more could continue without a hitch.
    Alissa Fitzgerald, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Totally fair, given the scale of destruction in L.A. County — and the dangers posed by Trump.
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Simple and true, thoughtful and soulful, with just a hint of danger.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Making your favorite sweaters, sweatshirts, and coats look brand new again is possible with a fabric shaver that wipes away snags in seconds.
    Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The team’s historic start hit a major snag as injuries ravaged the program and forced the Horned Frogs to forfeit two Big 12 games.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitfall. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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