as in predicament
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
although the military invasion had been a breeze, the nation soon found itself caught in a rattrap with no clear escape route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattrap
Noun
-
Young is one of a number of players who find themselves in this predicament, star-level talents whose production, in one way, shape or form, falls short of the cost of doing business.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026 -
Then Culhane’s hat finds itself in a similar predicament.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Athletic’s Matt Burrows wrote about how pickle juice shooters are used to target nerves that cause cramping instead of the muscle itself for quick relief.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Starters include Classic Deviled Eggs or Fried Pickles with buttermilk dressing, followed by entrée choices like the Shed Burger—topped with American and Swiss cheese, onion jam, lettuce, tomato and Shed Sauce—or a Chicken Sandwich with habanero honey and pickles.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Pay attention, however, and the connection between Mary and Boo becomes more tender as their dilemma deepens, as does the relationship between Mary and her well-meaning, if totally embarrassing, mom.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
This feels like an apt dilemma to invoke while critiquing a book about an editor.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This week’s forecast, appropriately enough, calls for sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70s for the 72-hole event.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Across the street, crime scene investigators took photos of a silver Chevy car, which had at least one bullet hole in its front windshield.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The best way to avoid this particular bind?—
Danielle Higley,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Fans criticized the tour announcement on social media, noting the heavy New York concentration leaves most American concertgoers in a financial bind.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But otherwise, the kids were free to roam around Iron River, playing football in their front yard and basketball on the playground, or cutting through woods and swamps.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Miller has always taken the American people for brainless, heartless chumps lost in a swamp of nostalgia who’ll believe whatever Trumpworld tells them to.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Snack on a Umm Ali pastry while sipping a karak chai (the local spiced tea, a mix of black tea, cardamom and condensed milk found on every street corner).—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But no one outside of the most credulous corners of the media are buying it.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Rattrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattrap. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
