pitfall
3 synonyms for pitfall, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A hidden hole dug in the ground as a trap, so that whatever falls in cannot climb out.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
2. noun
A hidden danger or difficulty that you can easily run into without expecting it.
“It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.”
Etymology
First recorded in the 14th century, formed from pit and fall in the sense "pit trap, pit snare", from Old English fealle ("trap, snare"), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz ("a fall, trap"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-. It is cognate with German Falle ("trap, snare").
Full origin of pitfall →