ensnare

verb

en·​snare in-ˈsner 

en-

ensnared; ensnaring; ensnares

transitive verb

: to take in or as if in a snare

Synonyms

• catch up
• enmesh
• immesh
• ensnarl
• entangle
• entoil
• entrap
• mesh
• net
• snare
• tangle
• trap

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

In a 2015 study, his lab (by then relocated to Harvard Medical School) discovered that another type of fast-signaling neuron ensnares hair follicles like lassos (opens a new tab). —Ariel Bleicher, Quanta Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025

Suppliers are hitting pause because Trump’s 145% tariff ensnares PC graphics cards, which are primarily made in China and face no exemption from the trade policy. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025

President Trump’s immigration crackdown ensnared Kseniia Petrova, a scientist who fled Russia after protesting its invasion of Ukraine. —Ellen Barry, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Martin Schutt | picture alliance | Getty Images China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology posted a 9.7% drop in annual revenue, a stock exchange filing showed on Friday, as a price war in the mainland electric vehicle market ensnared the world’s largest battery maker. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 14 Mar. 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