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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of trap
Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Newsom – who is widely viewed as a leading contender for his party’s nomination – must be careful not to fall into that same trap.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Surely Putin was in a panic at that point, for had NATO even threatened to take any action—such as blowing up the Kursk bridge and thereby trapping his army in Ukraine—he would have been left with the choice of surrender or all-out intercontinental nuclear war.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Noun
Later, Tom pours vodka into a Phillies cup and watches birds flutter by at night while Robbie gets his guns ready and shakes down a trap house.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Newsom – who is widely viewed as a leading contender for his party’s nomination – must be careful not to fall into that same trap.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Vargas was trapped and had to be extricated by first responders.
—Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Surely Putin was in a panic at that point, for had NATO even threatened to take any action—such as blowing up the Kursk bridge and thereby trapping his army in Ukraine—he would have been left with the choice of surrender or all-out intercontinental nuclear war.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
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State investigators allege that Pusser staged an August 12, 1967, pre-dawn ambush that killed his wife, Pauline.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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After her attempts to fight the dog off failed, Pasamanick decided to bite the pitbull’s neck, resulting in the dog eventually stopping the ambush.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Expect flocks of vibrant flamingos and tiny flitting hummingbirds spreading their wings over the turquoise waters and tangles of mangroves that unfold across lagoons that stretch parallel to the sea.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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The Rise Of The Two Philosophies For years, the default approach to multicloud networking was a chaotic, do-it-yourself affair, leading to a fragile, unmanageable tangle of siloed configurations.—
Serge Lucio,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their feces leave parasites on a person’s skin, and the parasites can go into a person’s body via the eyes, mouth, or an open wound.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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Instead of the old-school triangle eyes and jagged mouth designs, this year's top trends are all about mixing tradition with fresh tools and vibrant colors.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hatt was ejected from the truck, and Winkler was entrapped.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Aug. 2025
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That total lack of self-awareness and disregard for consequences fed right into Epstein’s warped way of entrapping others.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Plus, grab knife sets and a nifty electric can opener to streamline your cooking.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
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As Jey checked on Jimmy, LA Knight grabbed the steel chair and teased hitting Jey Uso.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Daugherty put the snare around the animal.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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As the gator wore down Blake got a snare around it and worked it toward their boat.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Bin Laden, through the al-Qaida terrorist organization, targeted the United States for nearly a decade before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, utilizing this large and expansive infrastructure.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Polish officials said 19 objects entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Maybe the labyrinth was all bull.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Pieces include a glass labyrinth by Roy Lichtenstein, a Ferris wheel by Basquiat, a forest-like pavilion by David Hockney, and other quirky attractions.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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