ensnare

verb

en·​snare in-ˈsner 

en-

ensnared; ensnaring; ensnares

transitive verb

: to take in or as if in a snare

Synonyms

• trap
• tangle
• entrap

Choose the Right Synonym for ensnare

catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing.

catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

trap, snare, entrap, ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor.

trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals

snared butterflies with a net

entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question

a sting operation that ensnared burglars

bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

Examples of ensnare in a Sentence

The animals got ensnared in the net.

The police successfully ensnared the burglar.

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, the Osoed interceptor uses a net-launching mechanism to ensnare adversary UAVs at speeds up to 140 kilometers per hour. —Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

In 2022, the two, along with 26 other men, were ensnared in the YSL RICO case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025

Japan’s drug laws have ensnared other corporate executives before. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2025

Cate Blanchett stars as a nun, Sister Eileen, who’s taken charge of a monastery and enrolls an Aboriginal boy recently ensnared in the outback. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ensnare

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

ensnare

verb

en·​snare in-ˈsna(ə)r 

-ˈsne(ə)r

: snare entry 2 sense 1, entrap