SNARER Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

snare 1 of 2

noun

ˈsner

Definition of snare

as in trap

a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise you fell for my clever snare, you fool!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in tangle

something that catches and holds someday you'll find that your lies are a snare from which you can't escape

Synonyms & Similar Words

snare

2 of 2

verb

as in to trap

to catch or hold as if in a net easily distracted by any bright object that snared his eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to grab

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly campers trying to snare brook trout for supper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Jacob The Lion ALEX BRACZKOWSKI Rescued from a poacher's snare in 2019. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 Further down the street, a troupe of drummers held court with a mix of snares and bass. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 June 2026

Verb

First baseman Michael Busch finished the play by reaching out and snaring Hoerner’s dazzling throw to complete the highlight and nab the speedy Salazar for the out. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026 Retirees and near-retirees are the taxpayers snared most often by the Stealth Taxes. — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for snare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for snare

Noun

But their journey to catch up with the Rivermen proves increasingly difficult, after one of their horses gets caught in a trap.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 20 July 2026
Hamilton, minding his own business, had nowhere to go, and Russell clipped him and then spun into the gravel trap.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026

Definition of trap

Noun

Luria, however, worried about that tangle of investments which bind the AI giants to their own customers; the love triangle of Google, Amazon and Anthropic; Microsoft and OpenAI, Nvidia and CoreWeave.

— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 July 2026
During this time, the brain starts to shrink, and the misfolded proteins that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s begin to build up — sticky amyloid beta plaques in the brain and tau tangles in neurons.

— Richard Sima, Washington Post, 21 July 2026

Definition of tangle

Verb

Paredes was quickly on the scene, grabbing Garcia briefly by the throat and shoving him to the floor.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
If relaxing is more your speed, grab a glass of Chablis, settle into an Adirondack chair with a good book, and watch the sunlight dance across the lily pads.

— Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 July 2026

Definition of grab

Noun

Several troubling new details are included in the articles, including an accusation that ADA leadership knew in advance that members would be handing out copies of the editorial and deliberately set up an ambush by venue security and local police.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Humans prepare for warfare with more surveillance, taking to higher ground to gather information, conducting ambushes and raids, and quietly spying on enemy territory to avoid detection.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 July 2026

Definition of ambush

Verb

Evans avoided a charging Breakker with a backflip and tagged Dragon Lee, who was rolling until Paul interfered, allowing Breakker to catch Lee in midair with a powerslam.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
But their journey to catch up with the Rivermen proves increasingly difficult, after one of their horses gets caught in a trap.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 20 July 2026

Definition of catch

Verb

Up in Chicago, rival United — which has been duking it out with American at O’Hare International Airport — snatched up delivery slots for more than 100 Boeing Dreamliners in the last four years.

— Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 19 July 2026
Malonga scored 28 points and snatched a game-high 14 rebounds.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of snatch

Browse Nearby Words

snap (up)

snare

snared

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“Snare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snare. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of snare

noun

verb

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