1
as in ambush
a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise
undercover agents devised a trap to catch the counterfeiters a bear trap
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ambushment
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait
an overland route to the Far East that was once notorious for the many robbers who laid traps for unsuspecting wayfarers
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tangle
something that catches and holds
the promotion is really just a trap to keep her from taking a new job elsewhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to tangle
to catch or hold as if in a net
an ambitious young man who was now trapped in a series of shady business deals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
finally trapped the annoying fly in the palm of his hand
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of trap
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
This is the trap of leisure in a culture fixated on work.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025
Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The semi driver was trapped inside the cab and died at the scene; the tractor driver was able to get out before it was engulfed by the fire.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Noun
More than 50,000 shoppers purchased these fruit fly traps in recent weeks.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
This is the trap of leisure in a culture fixated on work.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
In 2010: Thirty-three workers became trapped when a copper-gold mine collapsed in Chile’s Atacama Desert.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The semi driver was trapped inside the cab and died at the scene; the tractor driver was able to get out before it was engulfed by the fire.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
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This betrayal directly led to a fatal ambush in the Philippines where David’s entire U.S. intelligence team was wiped out, except for him.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The systematic obstruction of congressional oversight, inhumane detention conditions and courthouse ambush operation at 26 Federal Plaza represent a fundamental threat to the rule of law.—
Murad Awawdeh,
New York Daily News,
30 July 2025
Noun
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At the river’s edge, a quarter-mile-long Mitsubishi factory was a mountainous tangle of steel.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
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In contrast with the tangle of criminal cases which mostly stalled against Trump, Brazilian courts moved swiftly against Bolsonaro, threatening to end his political career and fracture his right-wing movement.—
Ricardo Brito,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Mean Girls actor also discussed why wiping Belly’s mouth in such a sensual way wasn’t only risky because she’s set to marry his brother, but because his character also has a peach allergy.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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But every once in a while, nature throws a curveball, like what happened to Massachusetts astrophotographer Erica Kahn, who wound up with a bat in her mouth during a stargazing session at Horseshoe Bend in northern Arizona.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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These situations provide an ideal opportunity for evil doers to set up bogus charities to entrap unsuspecting people.—
Norman B. Gildin,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Aug. 2025
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In February 2021, a Martian meteorite with the planet’s atmosphere entrapped in it went under the hammer at Christie’s auction house.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
16 July 2025
Verb
-
Four prisoners had to take turns using a bunk bed just to grab a few hours of sleep.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
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But Sunday, unfortunately for him, slipped away quickly as World No. 1 grabbed his fifth season title.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Utilizing cameras to target offenders can both help the police deploy limited resources efficiently and — when combined with facial recognition or bike-registration data — snare offenders remotely.—
Steve Cohen,
New York Daily News,
13 July 2025
-
Complaining about the rich comes with many snares, as events reminded Anwar last week.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
Education has been under attack in Florida for decades; the dumbing down of our schools and society is notorious.—
Robert Kesten,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
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But just this week, BPD arrested two undocumented immigrants caught on camera carrying out a violent attack in Canton.—
WBFF STAFF,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But these products were accompanied by a labyrinth of names and uses: GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini and GPT-4.1; o1-mini and o1-pro; o3 and o3-pro and o4-mini; and so on.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
7 Aug. 2025
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For over two decades, search engines have served as ubiquitous routers directing billions of clickers through the labyrinth of the internet.—
Perry Carpenter,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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