Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

trap

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of trap

1 a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise
  • Undercover agents devised a trap to catch the counterfeiters.
  • a bear trap
Synonyms of trap

ambush, net, snare, web
Words Related to trap

enmeshment, entanglement, entrapment, envelopment

booby trap, catch, hazard, land mine, pitfall, snag

artifice, cheat, cheating, deception, double-dealing, duplicity, ploy, ruse, subterfuge, trick
2 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 of trap

ambush, surprise (also surprize)
Words Related to trap

assault, attack, charge, sally

capture, entrapment, mousetrap, snare

hunting, stalking
3 something that catches and holds
  • The promotion is really just a trap to keep her from taking a new job elsewhere.
Synonyms of trap

entanglement, mesh(es), morass, net, noose, quagmire, snare, web
Words Related to trap

knot, snarl, tangle

cat's cradle, labyrinth, maze

cobweb, spiderweb

trap

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of trap

1 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 of trap

catch up, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, ensnarl, entangle, entrap, mesh, net, snare, tangle
Words Related to trap

bag, birdlime, capture, collar

embroil, implicate, involve, mire
Near Antonyms of trap

detach, disengage, extricate

clear, free, liberate
Antonyms of trap

disentangle, untangle
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
  • Tim finally trapped the annoying fly in the palm of his hand.
Synonyms of trap

bag, capture, catch, collar, cop [slang], corral, get, glom, grab, grapple, hook, land, nab, nail, net, rap, seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch
Words Related to trap

glove, halter, lasso, rope

apprehend, arrest, detain

bay, corner

clasp, clutch, fasten (on), fist, grasp, grip, hold, latch (on or onto), secure

rend, wrest

enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entangle, entrap, mesh

abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off)
Phrases Synonymous with trap

take hold (of)
Near Antonyms of trap

discharge, free, liberate, release

drop, loosen, unhand
Antonyms of trap

miss

Synonym Discussion of trap

catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing. catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.
    • caught the dog as it ran by
capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.
    • capture an enemy stronghold
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
entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.
    • entrapped the witness with a trick question
    • a sting operation that ensnared burglars
bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.
    • bagged a brace of pheasants

Learn More about trap

  1. See words that rhyme with trap Dictionary: Definition of trap Spanish Central: Translation of trap Nglish: Translation of trap for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of trap for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trap

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up trap? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games