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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in trapped
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Recent Examples of ensnared
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
The legislation changes how the law describes the federal government and the legislature’s view of Second Amendment rights, in an effort to sidestep the legal problems that ensnared the 2021 law.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
First, Watson ensnared Tulane quarterback Ty Thompson on a third-down run, lifted him several feet off the turf and threw him down.
—Joey Knight, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
The shelter melee case is among a long list of legal troubles Pearson, a former NYPD inspector and longtime friend to Adams, was ensnared in while in the mayor’s administration.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025
Analysis of wasps trapped in amber has revealed that the insect ensnared hosts for its larvae with an alluring, Venus flytrap-style butt.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2025
That policy has now ensnared Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University and a leader in the Palestinian rights protest movement at the school.
—Gabriel J. Chin, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025
Leake ensnared him, the victim’s father and two of their acquaintances.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
The family of shows ensnared plenty of big names throughout their air, including Gary Busey, Omarosa, LaToya Jackson and Lisa Rinna.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The original suit also ensnared the Harvard Club of New York, where lawyers for the women allege Toback was a frequent customer, often taking his victims there for meals and drinks before attacking them.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
The legislation changes how the law describes the federal government and the legislature’s view of Second Amendment rights, in an effort to sidestep the legal problems that ensnared the 2021 law.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
First, Watson ensnared Tulane quarterback Ty Thompson on a third-down run, lifted him several feet off the turf and threw him down.
—Joey Knight, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
The shelter melee case is among a long list of legal troubles Pearson, a former NYPD inspector and longtime friend to Adams, was ensnared in while in the mayor’s administration.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025
Analysis of wasps trapped in amber has revealed that the insect ensnared hosts for its larvae with an alluring, Venus flytrap-style butt.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2025
That policy has now ensnared Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University and a leader in the Palestinian rights protest movement at the school.
—Gabriel J. Chin, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025
Leake ensnared him, the victim’s father and two of their acquaintances.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
The family of shows ensnared plenty of big names throughout their air, including Gary Busey, Omarosa, LaToya Jackson and Lisa Rinna.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensnared
Adjective
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Gently remove the plant from its pot and loosen the roots if they are tightly bound.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 July 2025
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First spotted in 2024, FCC 224 is a dwarf galaxy that boasts a dozen luminous, tightly bound clusters of stars — an unusually rich population for its size, typically seen in larger, dark-matter rich galaxies — yet appears to lack the mysterious substance.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On a more somber note, some accounts suggest the presence of enslaved children in the building’s folklore, a haunting reminder of the region’s—and the home’s—complicated and painful past.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
29 July 2025
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By far, the deepest relationship of his life was with his wife, Mary, whose steely resolve helped bolster his commitment to freeing enslaved people.—
Christi Parsons,
Chicago Tribune,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ensnared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ensnared. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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