minefield

noun

mine·​field ˈmīn-ˌfēld How to pronounce minefield (audio)
1
: an area (as of water or land) set with mines
2
: something resembling a minefield especially in having many dangers or requiring extreme caution
a political minefield

Examples of minefield in a Sentence

This issue is a political minefield.
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.
Jury press conferences have become a minefield for those on stage in recent years as journalists ask questions about their views on global politics, especially the Israel-Gaza war. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2026 With wars still raging in the Middle East and Ukraine — and turbulence escalating globally — artists on the film festival circuit have been navigating political minefields. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 Barely an hour from the famed Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap, deminers with South Korean, Swiss and American flags on their uniforms and helmets, recently inched through a minefield, clearing the land one painstaking step at a time. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Each true story brings a different minefield to navigate in terms of what’s verifiable information, what’s unknown and the varying public sentiments. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for minefield

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of minefield was in 1884

Rhymes for minefield

See All Rhymes for minefield

Browse Nearby Words

mine detector
minefield
minehead
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Minefield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minefield. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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