ensnared; ensnaring; ensnares
: to take in or as if in a snare
Synonyms
Examples of ensnare in a Sentence
The animals got ensnared in the net.
The police successfully ensnared the burglar.
Recent Examples on the Web
The bust ensnared professional athletes, including former Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, who has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
—
David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
More:Pope Francis, in Easter address, calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker last July, while Israel was ensnared in its worst domestic crisis in decades, with widespread protests against his hard-right government's judicial overhaul plan.
—Maayan Lubell and Emily Rose, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Critics counter that what China’s Communist Party views as national security offences are far broader and more sweeping, often ensnaring political criticism, dissent and even business activity that would not be criminalized elsewhere.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
Last year’s coup attempt by the Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin ensnared at least four generals, whom Putin has mostly sent into exile to take over Wagner’s business in Syria.
—Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2024
While the therapist got ensnared in one of social media’s persistent, expensive problems, his acquaintance Bell fell victim to a Facebook hack.
—Jordan P. Hickey, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
The arrest of the former Mexican police officer was part of a massive bust that ensnared 21 other members of a drug-trafficking ring tied to the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world.
—Lisa Cavazuti, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2024
Meanwhile, as the top executives at NBCU News Group are ensnared in their own controversies, the company is under tremendous attack from right-wing figures, which are aiming to mar the reputation of NBC News.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Among those ensnared: 17 Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and correctional officers posing as sole business owners were charged in October with pocketing an average of $25,000 each in pandemic loans.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
More:Pope Francis, in Easter address, calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker last July, while Israel was ensnared in its worst domestic crisis in decades, with widespread protests against his hard-right government's judicial overhaul plan.
—Maayan Lubell and Emily Rose, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Critics counter that what China’s Communist Party views as national security offences are far broader and more sweeping, often ensnaring political criticism, dissent and even business activity that would not be criminalized elsewhere.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
Last year’s coup attempt by the Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin ensnared at least four generals, whom Putin has mostly sent into exile to take over Wagner’s business in Syria.
—Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2024
While the therapist got ensnared in one of social media’s persistent, expensive problems, his acquaintance Bell fell victim to a Facebook hack.
—Jordan P. Hickey, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
The arrest of the former Mexican police officer was part of a massive bust that ensnared 21 other members of a drug-trafficking ring tied to the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world.
—Lisa Cavazuti, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2024
Meanwhile, as the top executives at NBCU News Group are ensnared in their own controversies, the company is under tremendous attack from right-wing figures, which are aiming to mar the reputation of NBC News.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Among those ensnared: 17 Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and correctional officers posing as sole business owners were charged in October with pocketing an average of $25,000 each in pandemic loans.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ensnare.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1576, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near ensnare
Cite this Entry
“Ensnare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensnare. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
ensnare
verb
en·snare
in-ˈsna(ə)r 
-ˈsne(ə)r
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