Definition

Noun: A deathtrap is any structure, building, or vehicle that is extremely unsafe and dangerous, posing a very high risk of death or serious injury to the people inside or using it.

Usage

The word deathtrap is a strong, informal term used to describe a place or object so hazardous it could easily cause fatalities. It is often used for dramatic emphasis in journalism, everyday speech, and safety warnings to condemn unsafe conditions.

Examples

• That old factory with the rotting floors and exposed wiring is a complete deathtrap.
• The car had no working brakes; it was a deathtrap on wheels.
• Fire inspectors condemned the apartment building, calling it a fire deathtrap.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically to describe a highly dangerous situation or system, though this is less common.
  • The country's unregulated financial market became an economic deathtrap for small investors.

Variants and Related Words

• Death trap (less common spelling): An alternative spelling with a space.
• Deathly (adj): Causing or capable of causing death; fatal.
• Trap (n): A device or situation used to catch someone or something, or a dangerous or unpleasant situation from which it is difficult to escape.

Synonyms

• Hazard
• Menace
• Peril
• Death warrant (idiomatic)

Antonyms

• Safe haven
• Sanctuary
• Refuge

Related Idioms

• A accident waiting to happen: This phrase describes a situation or object that is very likely to cause a bad accident, similar to a deathtrap but not always implying certain death.
  • That rickety balcony is an accident waiting to happen.

Noun

1. any structure that is very unsafe; where people are likely to be killed