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snare

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb snare contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of snare are bag, capture, catch, ensnare, entrap, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," 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

When is bag a more appropriate choice than snare?

In some situations, the words bag and snare are roughly equivalent. However, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is it sensible to use capture instead of snare?

Although the words capture and snare have much in common, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

When would catch be a good substitute for snare?

The synonyms catch and snare are sometimes interchangeable, but catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

How are the words entrap and ensnare related as synonyms of snare?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of snare
Noun
Hungry Lion Records grants him the space to do so with an almost-morose mixture of trap snares and synths that invites listeners to focus on his soul-baring lyrics. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2025 In addition to his work in the wind ensemble, Gael has been a key member of the marching band and indoor drumline, serving as lead snare drummer. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
Through the first three months of the year, the domestic box office has snared $1.4 billion in ticket sales, about 12% shy of the $1.65 billion collected during the same period last year, according to data from Comscore. Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025 They get snared into helping their private investigator friend Moby (Hung) track down kidnappers intent on capturing a young woman named Sylvia (Lola Forner), who turns out to be the illegitimate daughter of a Spanish count. ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for snare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snare
Noun
  • So organizations often fall into the trap of title inflation to retain or attract talent, which breeds entitlement, short-term thinking and cultures that don't support employees' well-being.
    Tonushree Mondal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • There is no point in acting like Liverpool fans should be above the traps of tribalism and self-aggrandisement that all football fans fall into.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Long story short, the uncontrolled airflow of a standard blow dryer can create tangles galore on loose to tight curl patterns while the nozzle detachment used to create a smooth blowout effect does away with curls entirely.
    Georgia Day, Vogue, 14 May 2025
  • Speaking of tangles, the X9 employs onboard AI to detect and avoid problematic items like shoes and cords.
    Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Combs returns to the scene shortly thereafter and appears to grab at the phone.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey might end up as No. 2 and No. 3 overall, but the Hornets will be able to grab one if not.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Trump confronted South Africa's leader with false claims of genocide in Oval Office ambush.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Another man waits in ambush to force him to confess.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Surrounding June are several nooses, including one already occupied by Aunt Phoebe.
    EW.com, EW.com, 20 May 2025
  • Sorry, if Harvard were discriminating against Black students, or allowing nooses to be thrown over tree limbs, Obama would be joining a nationwide chorus of protest.
    Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Throughout the show, Elliot is often caught telling his kids wildly inappropriate stories in an effort to get closer to them and inspire them to open up.
    Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Financial services leaders are thus caught in a paradox.
    Kathleen Walch, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • One web company, Meta, has explored Ethernet fabrics for AI clusters as well as InfiniBand, an alternative networking standard pioneered partly by Mellanox, a networking hardware maker that Nvidia acquired for $7 billion in 2020.
    Jordan Novet, CNBC, 14 May 2025
  • Proton Mail wipes out web beacons, which are images that have no purpose beyond penetrating your privacy.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Read Next National Bear learns ‘bad behaviors’ from Colorado resident’s trash habits, officials say May 22, 2025 3:23 PM Read Next National Bear snatches trail cam in its mouth — and is caught on video.
    Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
  • Sizes are limited, so don’t wait too long to snatch up a pair of these gorgeous leather wedges.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Snare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snare. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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