snare

1 of 2

noun

ˈsner 

1

a(1)

: a contrivance often consisting of a noose for entangling birds or mammals

(2)

: trap entry 1, gin entry 2

b(1)

: something by which one is entangled, involved in difficulties, or impeded

(2)

: something deceptively attractive

2

[probably from Dutch snaar, literally, cord; akin to Old High German snuor]

a

: one of the catgut strings or metal spirals of a snare drum

b

: snare drum

3

: a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (such as tonsils)

snare

2 of 2

verb

snared; snaring

transitive verb

1

a

: to capture by or as if by use of a snare

b

: to win or attain by artful or skillful maneuvers

2

: to entangle or hold as if in a snare

any object that snared his eye

—Current Biography

snarer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• ambush
• net
• trap
• web

Verb

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

Choose the Right Synonym for snare

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 snare in a Sentence

Noun

people caught in the snare of drug addiction

you fell for my clever snare, you fool!

Verb

They caught fish and snared seabirds.

Unfortunately, the nets also snare turtles.

They snared first place in the contest.

trying to snare business from competitors

The shortstop snared a high throw from the outfield.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The heroes of these new books make their way into rarefied circles and encounter the snares of politics. —Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023

All the kick snares and everything changed — the bass lines changed, the pockets changed, the cadence, the writing. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2023

In certain regions, crab pots will be banned, but hoop nets and crab snares will be permitted. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2023

After chasing the caiman through the brush, Mr. Metzger was able to wrangle a snare around its snout. —Freda Kreier, New York Times, 24 Oct. 2023

In that regard, the insects a flytrap snares are essentially nutritional supplements. —Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023

University of Minnesota graduate student Dani Freund is measuring stress levels in the hair samples collected in snares. —Kris Millgate, Field & Stream, 4 Oct. 2023

While New Zealand has made protecting its unique flora and fauna a job for everyone, the competition exposed a snare of tensions: Which animals deserve protection, and who gets to define cruelty and humaneness? —Yan Zhuang Tatsiana Chypsanava, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2023

This can be through being shot or poisoned to protect livestock, being poached for their body parts or being caught as by-catch in traps and snares set for other animals by bushmeat poachers. —Alexander Richard Braczkowski, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023

Verb

Under a statute aimed at reducing money laundering, millions of small businesses may soon be snared by onerous reporting requirements and fines for noncompliance. —The Editorial Board, WSJ, 19 Nov. 2023

Wallace says Baier has long been able to snare interviews with everyone from actor Matthew McConaughey to athletes. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Oct. 2023

In his 23 seasons with the Orioles, from 1955 to 1977, Robinson became known as the Human Vacuum Cleaner for his ability to snare just about anything hit his way. —Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023

The suggestion that Apple could lose ground in the valuable Chinese market has pushed the company’s stock lower, and Apple’s most popular product has gotten snared in the persistent China-U.S. tensions over technology. —Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2023

My husband does this little whistle-thing when we’re separated but within earshot — a quick three-note lasso of a tune that snares my attention at any volume. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 28 July 2023

Asteroid that passes nearby could hit Earth in the future, NASA says Last month, the capsule landed in the Utah desert after a seven-year mission to snare a batch of rocks from the asteroid Bennu, located about 200 million miles away. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2023

Asteroid that passes nearby could hit Earth in the future, NASA says Back in September 2016, the federal space agency launched the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on a daring mission to snare a batch of rocks from the asteroid Bennu, located about 200 million miles away. —Gina Sunseri, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2023

Adrienne Smith opened up the Renegades’ scoring less than two minutes into the game, snaring a 28-yard pass from Cahill for a touchdown. —Kat Cornetta, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English sneare, probably from Old Norse snara; akin to Old High German snuor cord and perhaps to Greek narkē numbness

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing snare

• snare drum

• snare drum

Kids Definition

snare

1 of 2 noun

ˈsna(ə)r 

ˈsne(ə)r

1

a

: a trap often consisting of a noose for catching small animals or birds

b

: something by which one is entangled, trapped, or deceived

2

: one of the catgut strings or metal spirals stretched across the bottom of a snare drum

snare

2 of 2 verb

snared; snaring

1

: to capture or entangle by or as if by use of a snare

2

: to win by skillful or deceptive measures

snarer noun

Medical Definition

snare

noun

ˈsna(ə)r, ˈsne(ə)r 

: a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (as tonsils or polyps)