trapped 1 of 2

trapped

2 of 2

verb

past tense of trap

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of trapped
Adjective
Many leaders become trapped in what mental health professionals call contingent self-worth—the tendency to base personal value on achievement, recognition or productivity. Bybryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026 Beyond structural changes, the system tracks how trapped gases escape during temperature spikes and how fuel moves during a failure. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026 Prior to 9/11, the FAA required cockpit doors to be able to kick open in case crew members became trapped. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 These byproducts, chloramines, form when the chlorine molecules bind with the organic matter (dirt, body oil, sweat) in towels and become trapped in the fibers. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 June 2026 Two Broward Sheriff's Office deputies and off-duty Fort Lauderdale Fire Captain Keith Costa were the first responders on scene, diving into the canal to help the trapped woman. CBS News, 6 June 2026 Avoid heavy mulching to encourage airflow and prevent trapped moisture. Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 June 2026 Chakkrit said earlier this week that rescuers were focused on draining water from the cave and finding alternative ways to get in, with diving operations suspended for fear that the divers could also become trapped if there were a sudden downpour. Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 4 June 2026 Four others remain trapped in the chamber where they were found earlier this week. CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Verb
Together, these methods help build a timeline of when each layer of sediment and the plastic trapped in it were deposited. Lisa Emili, The Conversation, 16 June 2026 Seafarers left trapped by the conflict have faced shortages of food, water and medical care on their vessels, as well as the threat of attacks. Joanne Stocker, CBS News, 16 June 2026 The agency reported rescue teams were searching for people trapped under rubble and were assessing ​risks of additional temblors. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 16 June 2026 Silence, fear, shame and manipulation keep too many children trapped. Lauren Book, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2026 It is believed he may have been trapped in that same spot for nearly 24 hours until a passerby was finally able to hear his calls for help, West Metro Fire Rescue said. Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026 But Kpler, which tracks ship movements, said that its data shows no significant movement for the 220 tankers and the nearly 500 overall ships now trapped in the Persian Gulf. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 15 June 2026 The factors that sent the murder rate soaring 30% in 2020—social disruption, workplace and school closures that put young men on the street, stay-home recommendations that trapped people with abusers— faded as normal life returned. The Week Us, TheWeek, 15 June 2026 The rescue marked the second incident in the Long Island Sound over the weekend involving individuals who became trapped by the incoming tide. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trapped
Adjective
  • Years later, when tragedy strikes again and a mysterious inheritance surfaces, Ruth is forced to confront unsettling truths about the women who raised her and decide whether to redefine her future or remain bound to the past.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
  • The bound paper booklets in which students hand-write their responses to test questions have surged in popularity during the AI explosion.
    Jamil Zaki, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The two top packs flew off, and the third tangled in the cinch rope and wound around Tootsie’s leg.
    Dolores Brown, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026
  • Equally difficult is engaging with an artist and the discourse around them without getting tangled up in their narrative web.
    Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Forward Natasha Howard scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Lynx (12-3), who have won 10 of their past 11 games.
    John W. Davis, Oc Register, 18 June 2026
  • Police said one officer grabbed his gun and another grabbed his taser.
    Brandon Downs, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Juneteenth marks the day, June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed.
    Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
  • Merchants in fine suits rode in carriages or on sedan chairs while enslaved people lugging carts and crates wore dirty, threadbare clothing and could be publicly whipped or burned to death for misbehavior.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • The Grimm Brothers fairy tale follows a pair of famished siblings who get lost in the woods and entrapped by a child-eating witch, after stumbling upon her cottage made of candy.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 June 2026
  • Ognall said that Stagg had been entrapped, and ruled that any evidence gathered from the operation was inadmissible in court.
    Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • The excitement has also caught the attention of tourists.
    Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • If caught in a rip current, remain calm.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces.
    Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
  • Darker colors like charcoal or slate gray absorb light and can make a kitchen feel more confined.
    Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • González's chief of staff Francisco Domenech is the latest to be ensnared in a high-profile investigation, following the resignation last month of Puerto Rico’s economic development chief Sebastián Negrón, who accused the administration of interfering with the agency's work.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 June 2026
  • Who else in Newsom’s circle has been ensnared by DOJ’s investigations?
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trapped. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

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