as in trapping
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 ensnaring
More so, though, Levin took it upon himself to appeal directly to the person who wrote the note, at the very least cautioning them against ensnaring themselves in a federal crime.
—
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
That observation drove home for me how ensnaring this oppression must feel, how vast the spatial footprint of ICE’s boot.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
The Greek name is of uncertain origin, but it’s often linked to ideas of binding, entangling, or ensnaring—reflecting the Sirens’ deadly allure.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Montespan’s rivals accused her of ensnaring the king using the dark art of potions.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Out of her depth, Diane digs deeper into the investigation, her determination to uncover the truth revealing a web of corruption and danger at the highest levels, ensnaring Diane, her family and all those around her.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, funding for critical government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), as well as national flood insurance are running critically low on funds, potentially ensnaring millions of Americans.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
And yet, these counterattacks may be ensnaring scientists in a catch-22.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Aug. 2025
Preventing disputes from erupting in the first place can help people avert the costly and embarrassing kind of litigation now ensnaring Jimmy Buffett’s estate.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 2 July 2025
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
That observation drove home for me how ensnaring this oppression must feel, how vast the spatial footprint of ICE’s boot.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
The Greek name is of uncertain origin, but it’s often linked to ideas of binding, entangling, or ensnaring—reflecting the Sirens’ deadly allure.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Montespan’s rivals accused her of ensnaring the king using the dark art of potions.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Out of her depth, Diane digs deeper into the investigation, her determination to uncover the truth revealing a web of corruption and danger at the highest levels, ensnaring Diane, her family and all those around her.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, funding for critical government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), as well as national flood insurance are running critically low on funds, potentially ensnaring millions of Americans.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
And yet, these counterattacks may be ensnaring scientists in a catch-22.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Aug. 2025
Preventing disputes from erupting in the first place can help people avert the costly and embarrassing kind of litigation now ensnaring Jimmy Buffett’s estate.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 2 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensnaring
Verb
-
Pick high-pile or plush bath mats to maximize the warmth-trapping properties and opt for moisture-absorbing, quick-drying materials like microfiber in this high-humidity, water-splashing space.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
27 Feb. 2026
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But scientists, including Beckmann, argue that using casualties from the road can be a more ethical alternative to trapping wild animals or euthanizing them to sample tissues.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Forecasters warned that the storm's wind gusts could top 70 mph, uprooting trees and tangling power lines.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Using a cooling rack over water to propagate houseplants can help prevent root rot and tangling.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The vehicle caught on fire, entrapping the boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Getting young people to trust and depend on the traffickers is part of entrapping them.—
Anne P. DePrince,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ensnaring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ensnaring. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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