mousetrap

1 of 2

noun

mouse·​trap ˈmau̇s-ˌtrap How to pronounce mousetrap (audio)
Synonyms of mousetrapnext
1
: a trap for mice
2
: a stratagem that lures one to defeat or destruction
3
see also:

mousetrap

2 of 2

verb

mousetrapped; mousetrapping; mousetraps

transitive verb

: to snare in or as if in a mousetrap

Examples of mousetrap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
In some ways, the molecule behaves like a tiny molecular mousetrap. Chelsea Haney april 10, New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2026 If the locker room was riding high, or if the team was favored heavily against a particular opponent, Parcells would whip out the mousetraps. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
All of that seems to have been forgotten, though, in the rush to better mousetrap the category with extreme levels of brightness, unconventional form factors, solar charging, and other needless complication. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 9 Apr. 2020 See All Example Sentences for mousetrap

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mousetrap was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mousetrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mousetrap. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

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