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
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
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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
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Recent Examples of trap
Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Mbappe is not the only player capable of undoing the offside trap.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
And in July, drones helped find a stable route to three mine workers who spent more than 60 hours trapped underground in Canada.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Noun
As scammers get better at disguising their traps, our best defense is slowing down, thinking twice, and remembering that no real voicemail requires you to log in through a random link in your inbox.
—Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Mbappe is not the only player capable of undoing the offside trap.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
People were still trapped under rubble in the area, overwhelming local authorities.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
And in July, drones helped find a stable route to three mine workers who spent more than 60 hours trapped underground in Canada.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
-
Stines, 44, was allegedly caught on security video storming into Mullins’ chambers before shooting him in an alleged courthouse ambush that rattled the Appalachian community.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In response, a gunman sprayed Stanfa's car with automatic weapons during an ambush on the expressway, and although he wasn't hurt, his son Joseph was wounded in the head, per UPI.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Her hair is often a massive tangle of black curls, her nails are expertly polished, her huge brown eyes peer out from spidery lashes, and her skin is cocoa-butter smooth.—
Stephanie Mansfield,
Vogue,
2 Nov. 2025
-
These tangles grow into 30–40 nm particles.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That almost makes up for the confessional interview done with a snorkel in his mouth.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Stause is shown having foundation applied to her face while Peace holds a makeup puff in his mouth.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One of the most disturbing sequences on this show is Gacy luring in and entrapping 15-year-old Robert Piest (Ryker Baloun), whose disappearance is where the series starts.—
Derek Lawrence,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Courts have sometimes concluded the government's conduct was outrageous when police have used brutality against a defendant or government agents entrapped a defendant.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The woman’s mother then reportedly grabbed Crouch to keep him away from her daughter, causing Crouch to allegedly begin attacking the victim, the affidavit said.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Again, hopefully, Foxx was able to relax a little, grab some rays and just breathe.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In other parts of the state, hoop nets and crab snares may be used.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
-
LaFreniere said the bear had just about worked its way out of the snare, with the cable loop barely holding the bruin by a claw.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Real war introduces deception, saturation attacks and human failures.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The worker forced the child onto a bed during the attack, and the child’s head struck the edge of the bed and suffered a 2-centimeter laceration, per the statement.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The campaign will engage local media outlets, social media, newsletters and community organizations to guide Medi-Cal recipients through the labyrinth of changes, said CalOptima CEO Michael Hunn.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
24 Oct. 2025
-
From there, investigators, journalists, and suspects become entangled in a labyrinth of fear, obsession, and paranoia.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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