as in trapped
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as in tangled
to catch or hold as if in a net
parked just out of view, the state trooper was lying in wait to ensnare unwary speeders
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Recent Examples of ensnared
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
The travel chaos from the war in the Middle East has ensnared many of the Muslims who have converged on Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, leaving them stranded and scrambling to find other ways home.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
The software disruption worries have, regrettably, ensnared the cybersecurity names.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
And with the Epstein case unfolding unpredictably around the world, the Clintons are once again ensnared in the scandal of the moment.
—Steven Sloan The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
Fortunately, a technical glitch saved them from getting ensnared.
—Christopher Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Some Republicans are bringing immigration agents to show off their support for the controversial mass deportation campaign that ensnared Dylan Contreras.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Fortunately, a technical glitch saved them from getting ensnared.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
By Jef Feeley and Sonja Wind | Bloomberg Bayer AG agreed to pay more than $7 billion as part of a major push to resolve current and future cancer lawsuits over its top-selling Roundup weedkiller in a settlement plan to turn the page on litigation that has ensnared the company for years.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
Documents concerning UAPs are commonly ensnared with such sensitive intelligence that could impact national security if publicly disclosed, and would implicate a thorough declassification process.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
The travel chaos from the war in the Middle East has ensnared many of the Muslims who have converged on Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, leaving them stranded and scrambling to find other ways home.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
The software disruption worries have, regrettably, ensnared the cybersecurity names.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
And with the Epstein case unfolding unpredictably around the world, the Clintons are once again ensnared in the scandal of the moment.
—Steven Sloan The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
Fortunately, a technical glitch saved them from getting ensnared.
—Christopher Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Some Republicans are bringing immigration agents to show off their support for the controversial mass deportation campaign that ensnared Dylan Contreras.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Fortunately, a technical glitch saved them from getting ensnared.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
By Jef Feeley and Sonja Wind | Bloomberg Bayer AG agreed to pay more than $7 billion as part of a major push to resolve current and future cancer lawsuits over its top-selling Roundup weedkiller in a settlement plan to turn the page on litigation that has ensnared the company for years.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensnared
Adjective
-
Until Puerto Rico is allowed to decide how its energy is produced, who profits from it, and how it is governed, the archipelago will remain trapped in a system that reproduces vulnerability instead of resilience.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Lynch became trapped in her vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.—
Storey Wertheimer,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The two will be twisted and tangled for all time — plenty of T-shirts commemorate the catch — with the Series secured in Pages’ glove.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
If travel plans or deliveries get tangled, confirm details ASAP, before problems get any bigger.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Dodgers’ split-squad group that journeyed the 14 miles from Glendale (and ultimately lost to Texas, 7-6) was largely a skeleton crew of Triple-A bound prospects and wannabes.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
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The pro-bound Crimson Tide are fronted by QB Ty Simpson, who threw 28 touchdowns to five interceptions in his final collegiate season.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The video, which surfaced on Instagram around the time of a playoff game between Birdville and Burleson Centennial, used a scene from the 1970s television series Roots that shows an enslaved Black man yielding to a slave master.—
Myah Taylor,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
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In September, a photo showing an enslaved man's scarred back from whippings was removed from a national monument in Georgia.—
Aida Mogos,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ensnared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ensnared. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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