trap 1 of 2

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

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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

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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

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4
as in mouth
slang the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal shut your trap before someone belts you one!

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trap

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb trap contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of trap are bag, capture, catch, ensnare, entrap, and snare. 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 could bag be used to replace trap?

The words bag and trap can be used in similar contexts, but bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is it sensible to use capture instead of trap?

While in some cases nearly identical to trap, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

When might catch be a better fit than trap?

In some situations, the words catch and trap are roughly equivalent. However, catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

How do entrap and ensnare relate to one another, in the sense of trap?

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 trap
Noun
Wrapping cheese tightly in plastic wrap can cut off the oxygen supply and trap moisture, leading to mold growth and spoilage, not to mention softening the rind of your beloved hard cheeses. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 May 2025 But Trump cannot fall into the Obama trap of wanting a deal no matter its merits. The Editors, National Review, 8 May 2025
Verb
The rich keep winning, while the poor remain trapped in mediocrity. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 May 2025 The floodwaters rose so quickly and entered the building that brothers William and Quinton Wade were left trapped inside with dozens of others. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
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
  • 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
  • Before Carrier’s tangle of fraudulent loans collapsed and was exposed in court, there were signs of trouble.
    Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • The single artwork follows the theme of the track, which sees Kesha being choked by someone who holds a cigarette to her mouth, while another arm holds up a silver telephone to her ear.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2025
  • Next up could be the Hyatt Regency at the Brickell bridge along the mouth of the Miami River.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Soon after the hearing, Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo gave a speech from the floor of the legislature, accusing her of seducing sources to entrap his father.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • In the book, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) chops off romance novelist Paul Sheldon's feet as part of her efforts to entrap him permanently in her home.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 29 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
  • We all have been bedeviled at times by bureaucratic snafus (and snares), and so improvement is necessary.
    John Baldoni, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • From sticky asphalt graves to dinosaur-eating quicksand, these sites reveal how nature sometimes sets its own snares, and how life—on a mass scale—meets its end.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The attack left about 1,200 people dead, and militants captured Alexander and some 250 others to hold hostage. 'Greatest gift': Family of NJ's Edan Alexander heads to Israel as Hamas agrees to release How many hostages remain in Gaza?
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • Alexander, who was captured by Hamas during the October 7 terror attacks, was handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis on Monday as part of efforts to re-establish ceasefire talks.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • But we could just as easily get lost in El Born and the Gothic Quarter’s labyrinths, looking for dumplings or the best Catalan restaurant.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 6 May 2025
  • The rehearsal space for the Metropolitan Opera’s orchestra is three levels below a parking garage, amid a labyrinth of dingy hallways and exposed ceiling pipes.
    Jane Bua, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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