minefield

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'minefield' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a situation or topic that is full of danger, traps, or difficulties. It can also be used literally to describe an area that is filled with explosive mines. Example: The topic of religion can be a minefield, as it often leads to heated debates and conflicts among people with different beliefs. Another example: Navigating the politics of the workplace can be difficult, as it is often a minefield of office gossip and power struggles.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dr Denver D'Rozario, who has written several academic papers on the post-mortem life of dead celebrities on screen, coined the term 'Delebs' to describe the digitally resurrected icons and said the practice still remained a moral minefield.

The Guardian

Many of the spots chosen for Peace Camp – including Dunstanburgh Castle, built in the 14th century and set about with gun emplacements and a minefield in the second world war – have a history of militarisation.

The Guardian - Arts

This minefield of issues has to be resolved before the 'Primary Education for All' Millennium Development Goal (MDG) can be successfully implemented.

The Guardian

What do you call a monkey in a minefield?

The Guardian

He says he took the decision four years ago largely on the advice of the Edgbaston groundsman Steve Rouse, who said it would be "a minefield".

The Guardian - Sport

"I don't want to step into that minefield.

The Guardian - Film

"If I were a student that just got trapped in the middle of a minefield by cops without any way to get home and completely in harm's way, I'd be ready to pop off, too," Harris said in a post to Facebook.

The Guardian

His mission was to walk through this minefield without blowing himself up.

The Guardian - Opinion

Activists said the company feared a "public relations minefield" and had sent workers home in order to derail the protest.

The Guardian - Business

Revising for A2 exams is a different kind of minefield.

The Guardian

And then there's organic food, food from abroad - it's a minefield".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair it with descriptive adjectives like "political", "ethical", "legal" or "regulatory" to provide immediate context to the type of danger being discussed

Common error

Do not use "minefield" to describe simple or mildly annoying tasks, such as doing laundry or organizing a desk. Overusing it for minor problems dilutes its dramatic impact and can appear insensitive to the actual lethal reality of physical minefields.

Linguistic Context

In its primary function, "minefield" acts as a count noun. It can denote a literal geographic area containing explosive devices or, more frequently in the data from Ludwig, a metaphorical noun phrase describing a situation fraught with hidden dangers or complex difficulties. In these contexts, it often functions as a subject complement (e.g., "It is a minefield") or the object of a preposition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science & Ethics

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI and the extensive dataset provided, "minefield" is an essential term in the English lexicon for describing high-risk environments. While its literal meaning remains relevant in military and historical contexts, its metaphorical application dominates modern professional writing. Sources like The Economist and The Guardian frequently deploy the word to describe political, legal and ethical challenges. Ludwig confirms its grammatical status as a correct and highly effective noun for conveying the necessity of caution. Whether you are writing about international diplomacy or corporate regulations, "minefield" serves as a vivid shorthand for a path where one wrong step could lead to significant failure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

treacherous ground

Focuses on the instability and deceptive nature of a path or situation

ethical quagmire

Specializes the danger to moral dilemmas where any action might be problematic

moral maze

Emphasizes the difficulty of finding the correct path through complex ethics

dangerous territory

A broader spatial metaphor for high-risk topics or actions

regulatory nightmare

Specific to bureaucratic or legal hurdles that are extremely difficult to navigate

potential disaster

Highlights the likely negative outcome rather than the hidden nature of the risks

can of worms

Suggests that a single action will reveal many unforeseen complications

booby-trapped area

The most literal synonym, implying intentionally hidden physical hazards

political hot potato

Refers to a controversial issue that politicians avoid because it is dangerous to handle

slippery slope

Implies that one step will lead to an inevitable and catastrophic decline

FAQs

How do I use "minefield" in a sentence?

You can use it literally to describe military hazards or metaphorically for difficult situations. For example: "Navigating office politics can be a <a href="/s/treacherous+ground" target="_blank" rel="alternative">treacherous ground" or simply "The project is a legal minefield".

What is the difference between a "minefield" and a "quagmire"?

While both imply danger, a "minefield" suggests hidden traps that cause immediate damage if triggered, whereas a <a href="/s/quagmire" target="_blank" rel="alternative">quagmire implies a sticky situation that is difficult to escape and slows progress down.

What can I say instead of "minefield"?

Depending on your context, you might use alternatives like <a href="/s/moral+maze" target="_blank" rel="alternative">moral maze, <a href="/s/dangerous+territory" target="_blank" rel="alternative">dangerous territory or <a href="/s/hazardous+situation" target="_blank" rel="alternative">hazardous situation.

Is "minefield" too informal for business writing?

No, it is widely used in high-level business and news publications like The Economist. It is considered a <a href="/s/neutral" target="_blank" rel="alternative">neutral to professional metaphor for complex risks.