snare 1 of 2

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
Nelson had a great chance in the slot, but Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll snared his shot with a flashy glove save. Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025 Martino was also snared in that indictment, charged with going into the marijuana trafficking business with Ragano and others. John Annese, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 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
  • All of our experts agree that silk and satin bonnets protect hair from the harsh friction caused by cotton pillowcases, which can lead to dryness, tangles, frizz, and breakage over time.
    Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 5 Apr. 2025
  • But after the onset of dementia with high tau tangles, anti-tau therapy or one of the many other experimental approaches may be more effective.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Combs returns to the scene shortly thereafter and appears to grab at the phone.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • The Pineapple Express actress allegedly grabbed and struck van Ree's arm in an altercation at a Seattle airport.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Memories of the ambush on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were still fresh.
    David Moscrop, Time, 8 May 2025
  • Joe Bergeron was searching for carjacking suspects in St. Paul when he was killed in an ambush.
    Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • Police determined that Brown's DNA matched the DNA found on the noose, according to a forensic report issued on March 10.
    Stepheny Price, Fox News, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the Confederate noose was tightening around Fort Sumter, in the waters off Charleston, where the Northern garrison was effectively under blockade.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Yet octopuses have been caught performing incredible feats such as escaping aquarium tanks, solving puzzles, unscrewing jar lids and carrying shells as shields.
    Yasemin Saplakoglu, Wired News, 11 May 2025
  • The metallic threading catches light in ways that basic prints could only dream about.
    Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • Proton Mail wipes out web beacons, which are images that have no purpose beyond penetrating your privacy.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • In October, Disney snatched the rights to the annual music awards show in a 10-year pact.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 7 May 2025
  • This previous weekend was particularly nuts, with an older gentleman snatched from the streets of Paris' 14th arrondissement on May 1 by men in ski masks.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Snare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snare. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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